After The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian bombed at the box office with a meager $141 million dollars, short $81 million of its production budget, it was thought that nobody could resurrect this beloved franchise. Soon after Caspian’s loss, Disney had dropped out of co-producing and distributing the third in C.S Lewis’ series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. In a recent interview producer of the Narnia films, Mark Johnson expressed his own disappointment:
“We made some mistakes with Prince Caspian, and I don’t want to make them again. [Caspian] was a little bit too rough for families, and too much of a boys action movie.” ChristianityToday
But in recent times the fate of the Narnia films has been looking positive. Previous co-producer Walden Media has joined with 20th Century Fox to bring The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to life. A new director, Michael Apted replaces Andrew Adamson who brought the first two Narnia films the screen.
Now in post production, attention has turned to the film’s promotional trail, with the latest involving a special screening of the film for 100 Christian leaders with an “encyclopedic knowledge of C. S Lewis and the Narnia books”. The response was overwhelmingly positive:
“There seems to be a high level of respect for the material. My sense was that they really want to go to the authenticity of C. S. Lewis, maybe more so than ever.” (Steve Bell, Willow Creek Association)
Whether Dawn Treader does well in the box office may determine the fate of the rest of Narnia books yet to be adapted into films. But as the filmmakers are well aware Dawn Treader needs to appeal to the fans, Christian or otherwise, if it has any hope of succeeding and to do so they must stay true to the essence of the original story.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader opens in cinemas this year on December 10.
Do you think the Dawn Treader will be succeed in the box office?