| The Chronicles of Narnia | |
|---|---|
 Official film series logo | |
| Directed by | Andrew Adamson (1–2) Michael Apted (3) |
| Screenplay by | Ann Peacock (1) Andrew Adamson (1–2) Christopher Markus (1–3) Stephen McFeely (1–3) Michael Petroni (3) |
| Based on | The Chronicles of Narnia byC. S. Lewis |
| Produced by | Mark Johnson (1–3) Philip Steuer (1–3) Andrew Adamson (2–3) |
| Starring | Georgie Henley Skandar Keynes William Moseley Anna Popplewell Ben Barnes Will Poulter Tilda Swinton Liam Neeson |
| Cinematography | Donald McAlpine (1) Karl Walter Lindenlaub (2) Dante Spinotti (3) |
| Edited by | Sim Evan-Jones (1–2) Rick Shaine (3) |
| Music by | Harry Gregson-Williams (1–2) David Arnold (3) |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox (3) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (1–2) |
Release dates | |
Running time | 406 minutes (1–3) |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Total (3 films): $560,000,000 |
| Box office | Total (3 films): $1,580,364,900 |
The Chronicles of Narnia is afantasyfilm series andmedia franchise based onThe Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels byC. S. Lewis. The series revolves around the adventures of children in the world ofNarnia, guided byAslan, a wise and powerful lion that can speak and is the true king of Narnia. The children heavily featured in the films are the Pevensie siblings, and a prominent antagonist is theWhite Witch (also known as Queen Jadis). The franchise also includes short films, digital series, and video games.
From the seven books, three were adapted—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005),Prince Caspian (2008), andThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)—which collectively grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide (although critical and commercial reception declined with each release). The first two films were directed byAndrew Adamson and the third film was directed byMichael Apted. All were produced byWalden Media. Plans for a fourth film in the Walden series were abandoned when it was announced in 2018 that new adaptations would be made forNetflix.[1]
C. S. Lewis did not sell the film rights to theNarnia series during his lifetime, as he was skeptical that any cinematic adaptation could render the more fantastical elements and characters of the story realistically.[a][failed verification] Only after seeing a demo reel ofCGI animals didDouglas Gresham, Lewis's stepson and eventualliterary executor, give approval for a film adaptation.
Although the plan was originally to produce the films in the same order as the books were published, it was reported thatThe Magician's Nephew, which recounts the creation of Narnia, would be the fourth feature film in the series, instead ofThe Silver Chair. It was rumored thatThe Magician's Nephew was chosen in an attempt to reboot the series, afterThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader grossed less than the two previous films.[2] In March 2011, Walden Media confirmed that they intendedThe Magician's Nephew to be next in the series, but said that it was not yet in development.[3]
In October 2011, Gresham stated that Walden Media's contract with the C. S. Lewis estate had expired and suggested that Walden Media's lapse in renegotiating their contract with the C. S. Lewis estate was due to conflicts between the companies about the direction of future films.[4] On 1 October 2013, the C. S. Lewis Company announced a partnership withThe Mark Gordon Company and announced thatThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair was officially in pre-production.[5]
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, based on the 1950novel of the same title, is the first film in the series. Directed by Andrew Adamson, it was shot mainly in New Zealand, though locations were used in Poland, theCzech Republic, and the United Kingdom. The story follows the four BritishPevensie siblings, who are evacuated duringthe Blitz to the countryside, where they find a wardrobe that leads to thefantasy world ofNarnia. There, they must ally with the lionAslan against the forces of theWhite Witch, who has placed Narnia in an eternal winter. The film was released theatrically on 9 December 2005 and DVD on 4 April 2006 and grossed over $745 million worldwide.
Prince Caspian, based on the 1951novel of the same title, is the second film in the series and the last distributed byWalt Disney Pictures. The story follows the same Pevensie children who were transported to Narnia in theprevious film as they return to Narnia, where 1,300 years have passed and the land has been invaded by theTelmarines. The four Pevensie children aidPrince Caspian in his struggle for the throne against his corrupt uncle, KingMiraz.
The film was released on 16 May 2008. It grossed $419 million worldwide.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, based on the 1952novel of the same title, is the first film in the series not to be co-produced byDisney, who dropped out over a budget dispute withWalden Media. In January 2009, it was announced thatFox 2000 Pictures would replace Disney for future installments, but because of theacquisition of 21st Century Fox, Disney now owns the rights to all the films. Directed by Michael Apted, the movie was filmed almost entirely in Australia.
The story follows the two younger Pevensie children as they return to Narnia with their cousin,Eustace Scrubb. They join Caspian, now king of Narnia, in his quest to rescue seven lost lords and save Narnia from a corrupting evil that resides on a dark island.[6]
The film was released on 10 December 2010 (inRealD 3D in select theatres) and grossed over $415 million worldwide.
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
| Role | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Prince Caspian | The Voyage of the Dawn Treader |
|---|---|---|---|
Children[edit] | |||
| Lucy Pevensie | Georgie Henley Rachael HenleyO | Georgie Henley | |
| Edmund Pevensie | Skandar Keynes Mark WellsO | Skandar Keynes | |
| Peter Pevensie | William Moseley Noah HuntleyO | William Moseley | William MoseleyC |
| Susan Pevensie | Anna Popplewell Sophie WinklemanO | Anna Popplewell | Anna PopplewellC |
Other main characters[edit] | |||
| Aslan | Liam NeesonV | ||
| Jadis the White Witch | Tilda Swinton | Tilda SwintonC | |
| Prince Caspian X | Ben Barnes | ||
| Reepicheep | Eddie IzzardV | Simon PeggV | |
| Role | Film | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Prince Caspian | The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | |
| 2005 | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Director(s) | Andrew Adamson | Michael Apted | |
| Producer(s) | Mark Johnson & Phillip Steuer | Mark Johnson, Andrew Adamson & Phillip Steuer | |
| Writer(s) | Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson,Stephen McFeely &Christopher Markus | Andrew Adamson, Stephen McFeely & Christopher Markus | Michael Petroni, Stephen McFeely & Christopher Markus |
| Composer(s) | Harry Gregson-Williams | David Arnold | |
| Cinematographer(s) | Donald McAlpine | Karl Walter Lindenlaub | Dante Spinotti |
| Editor(s) | Jim May & Sim Evan-Jones | Sim Evan-Jones | Rick Shaine |
| U.S. release date | 9 December 2005 | 16 May 2008 | 10 December 2010 |
| Distributor(s) | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | 20th Century Fox | |
The series grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, but critical and commercial reception diminished with each film.
| Film | Release date | Box office gross | All-time ranking | Budget | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | North America | Worldwide | ||||
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | December 9, 2005 (2005-12-09) | $291,710,957 | $453,302,158 | $745,013,115 | 78 | 86 | $180 million | [7] |
| Prince Caspian | May 16, 2008 (2008-05-16) | $141,621,490 | $278,044,078 | $419,665,568 | 363 | 236 | $220 million | [8] |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | December 10, 2010 (2010-12-10) | $104,386,950 | $311,299,267 | $415,686,217 | 621 | 238 | $150 million | [9] |
| Total | $537,719,397 | $1,042,645,503 | $1,580,364,900 | $560 million | [10][11] | |||
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 75% (217 reviews)[13] | 75 (39 reviews)[14] | A+ |
| Prince Caspian | 66% (194 reviews)[15] | 62 (34 reviews)[16] | A- |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 50% (167 reviews)[17] | 53 (33 reviews)[18] | A- |
After Walden Media's contract of the series' film rights expired in 2011, The C. S. Lewis Company announced on 1 October 2013 that it had agreed with The Mark Gordon Company to adapt the 1953 novelThe Silver Chair.Mark Gordon andDouglas Gresham, along with Vincent Sieber, theLos Angeles based director of The C. S. Lewis Company, would serve as producers and work with The Mark Gordon Company on developing the script.[5] On 5 December 2013, it was announced thatDavid Magee would write the screenplay.[19] In July 2014, the official Narnia website allowed the opportunity for fans to suggest names for theLady of the Green Kirtle, the main antagonist. The winning name was to be selected by Mark Gordon and David Magee for use in the final script ofThe Silver Chair.[20]
The film's producers have called the film a reboot of the series, with a wholly new cast and creative crew.[21][22] On 9 August 2016, it was announced thatSony'sTriStar Pictures andEntertainment One was set to finance and distribute the fourth film with The Mark Gordon Company (which eOne owns) and The C. S. Lewis Company.[23] In April 2017, it was announced thatJoe Johnston had been hired to directThe Silver Chair.[24] During an interview withRed Carpet News TV, producer Mark Gordon revealed scarce details about the new technologies and setting that would be used for the film.[25]
On 3 October 2018, it was announced thatNetflix and the C. S. Lewis Company had made a multi-year agreement to develop a new series of film and TV adaptations ofThe Chronicles of Narnia.[26] With this announcement, all previously announced plans forThe Silver Chair were superseded.[27][28][29][30]
Footnotes
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