The Chronicles of Narnia movies have been absent from the big screen for the last seven years - and with fairly good reason. While the franchise got off to an amazing start in 2005 with The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe grossing nearly $750 worldwide, each subsequent movie has made less and less. As a result, the series has been put on hold... but soon it will be coming back, as Joe Johnson has signed on to direct The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.
Variety reports that the C.S. Lewis Company and the Mark Gordon Company are teaming up with TriStar Pictures this time around, adapting the fourth book in author C.S. Lewis' beloved series of novels. We first heard rumblings about the project in early 2016, but now it's moving forward - with the plot essentially allowing for a soft reboot.
Rather than following the Pevensie children, as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader all do, The Silver Chair centers on a different protagonist. The hero in the story is instead Pevensie cousin Eustace Scrubb, who travels to Narnia in hopes of rescuing Price Caspian's kidnapped son, Prince Rilian. Will Poulter played Scrubb in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Ben Barnes has twice been the big screen Caspian, but it is unknown if either will be reprising their roles.
The franchise has certainly picked up a safe, veteran choice in Joe Johnston to direct, as the filmmaker has spent nearly 30 years directing blockbusters. His career began in visual effects and art/animation, but his resume as a director includes The Rocketeer, Jumanji, and Captain America: The First Avenger.
David Magee, who has twice been nominated for an Academy Award (Life of Pi, Finding Neverland), is penning the script for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair - though it's unclear exactly how close the adaptation will be to the source material. What's also unknown at this time is exactly how fast this train is going to get out of the station. The project doesn't currently have a release date, so it's unclear if gears are going to start turning tomorrow, or if fans should continue being patient. Be sure that as more information comes in we'll be sure to have it for you.
What do you think of Joe Johnston as the director choice to make Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair - essentially reviving the franchise after a near decade-long absence? Answer our poll below, and leave your thoughts in the comments section!
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