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A few years back, it seemed like audiences might get a new Chronicles of Narnia movie ever few years. 2005 brought The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, which grossed almost $300 million domestic, but when Prince Caspian was released in 2008, that box-office take was cut nearly in half. It got to a point where, if you polled 100 people on the street, I doubt 10 of them would even know The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was released in 2010. It only grossed $100 million domestic.
Yet all three films have been much bigger successes overseas. So, after a few years of uncertainty, it seems audiences will be heading back to Narnia once again. The C.S. Lewis and Mark Gordon Companies have announced they are set to develop and produce The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, based on the fourth book in Lewis’ series.
Here’s the press release about the film. What’s not included here is a studio who’d distribute the film (Disney did the first two, Fox did the third) or which cast members, if any, would return. Those answers will likely come in time, as a screenwriter is hired, followed by a director and other principals.
The C.S. Lewis Company has entered into an agreement with The Mark Gordon Company to jointly develop and produce THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE SILVER CHAIR, the fourth book published in C.S. Lewis’ famed fantasy series. The announcement was made today by The C.S. Lewis Company.
Mark Gordon stated, “Like many readers, both young and old, I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis’s beautiful and allegorical world of Narnia. These fantasy stories inspire real-world passion among millions of devoted fans around the world. As we prepare to bring the next book to life, we are humbled and excited to contribute to the outstanding legacy of Narnia.”
Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis stated, “I have a great deal of respect for Mark Gordon’s work and am confident that together we can bring the beauty and magical delight that Narnia engenders in the hearts of those who read the books to the screen in ‘The Silver Chair.’ I am very much looking forward to diving once more into Narnia, this time with Mark Gordon and his team.”
Mark Gordon and Douglas Gresham along with Vincent Sieber, the LA based Director of The C.S. Lewis Company, will serve as producers and work with The Mark Gordon Company on developing the script. Michele Wolkoff and Sara Smith will oversee for The Mark Gordon Company.
Vincent Sieber stated, “We are very excited by this partnership and to be able to work on this movie from its earliest conception on such a collaborative basis. It gives us the opportunity to develop a script and then produce a film with some of the most talented industry professionals whilst remaining completely faithful to this much loved book.”
The first three Narnia films combined have grossed over $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office.
A classic series of seven novels that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide, C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” began with the publication of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” in 1950. Six more novels (including the prequel, “The Magician’s Nephew,” and the sequels, “The Horse and His Boy,” “Prince Caspian,” “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” “The Silver Chair” and “The Last Battle”) would follow in the next six years. The final title in the series, “The Last Battle,” was awarded the highest mark of excellence in children’s literature, the prestigious Carnegie Award.
Are you excited for The Chronicles of Narnia to continue?
