The C.S. Lewis Company announced yesterday that it will jointly develop and produce The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair with The Mark Gordon Company.
The follow-up to the last installment, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is a film version of the fourth book in Lewis’ classic fantasy series that continues the story of King Caspian, Aslan the lion and Eustace Scrubb.
‘The Magician’s Nephew’, the sixth book published in The Chronicles of Narnia, was previously rumored to be made into the new movie when buzz first picked up, but instead it will be ‘The Silver Chair’.
Producer Gordon had this to say:
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.”
‘The Silver Chair’ takes place 50 years (less than a year has passed in England) after the events of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader with Eustace becoming the main protagonist along with a new character, a girl named Jill. The novel doesn’t feature any of the Pevensie siblings, focusing instead on Eustace’s journey to find Prince Caspian’s son and only heir, Prince Rilian, who has grown elderly and sad in the prince’s absence. An elderly King Caspian also appears.
It’s unclear if Will Poulter and Ben Barnes will reprise their roles, but it will be interesting to see if the Mark Gordon Company – a smaller production outfit with credits mainly in TV (Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy) – can turn the franchise’s fortunes around.
More as it develops.
