'Lion' to Be Shot in New Zealand (CS Lewis Alert)

AP ^ | Fri, Dec 19, 2003

[presidio9]

"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the beloved fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis, will be made into a film in New Zealand, a newspaper reported Friday.

New Zealander Andrew Adamson, best known for the Oscar-winning animated feature "Shrek," will direct the film and Walden Media will produce it.

"We are extremely happy and excited to be starting work on the film in New Zealand," Wellington's Dominion Post Newspaper quoted Adamson as saying.

The movie is expected to be the first of five films based on Lewis' seven Chronicles of Narnia books, to which Walden holds the film rights.

Director Peter Jackson (news) shot the three "Lord of the Rings" films, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy book series, in New Zealand using its unspoiled landscapes.

The $110 million budget film will start production preparations early in 2004, although work on the Chronicles has already started at Jackson's Weta Workshop in Wellington.

A spokeswoman for Weta confirmed it was currently working on the project, but declined to give details.

Shooting, much of it in South Island forests, high country and coastal areas, will begin mid-2004, the reports said.

Taxpayers will help foot the bill for the film, which will be made using a screen production grant scheme set up by the government this year.

Under the plan, production companies can receive up to 12.5 percent of their total costs back at the end of production.

"The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," published in 1950, is the second and best-known novel in the seven-part Narnia series. It also includes "The Magician's Nephew," "The Horse and His Boy," "Prince Caspian," "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," "The Silver Chair" and "The Last Battle."

[r9etb]

I'm reading the books to my kids right now. My sense is that the movies could be either really good, or really awful. I don't see that they'd ever be merely mediocre.

[thoughtomator]

Was hoping the article was about plans for Saddam's execution, but this is good too.

[presidio9]

When you finish CS Lewis, might I suggest Roald Dahl?

[Corin Stormhands]

Cool news.

[JenB]

Hmm... I'm cautious of saying it can't be done, after seeing Lord of the Rings. But... can it be done right? Are the filmmakers dedicated to preserving Lewis's Christianity?

[isatoi]

If you have never read CS Lewis' work, take the time out to do so. This is one of hte best fantasy series books that I have had the pleasure of reading. Now I am just going to have to pick up the series and read it all over again. I am so excited.

[JenB]

Was just about to ping you, Master Dwarf. I can hope, can't I?

How do you make five movies out of seven books? What gets cut?

[wallcrawlr]

It has to be good with that director and budget attached to it.

[r9etb]

It has to be good with that director and budget attached to it.

Ishtar.

[Looking for Diogenes]

"The Lione The Witch and the Wardrobe" was just included in a popularly voted list of the best-loved books in England.

I jst gave the whole set to a niece. She loves the Harry Potter books but her father was concerned about the witchcraft element of them. I hope she likes the Narnia tales.

[joesnuffy]

Now if they would just make Lewis's Space Triology....whoa...

[Corin Stormhands]

I don't know what they'll cut. Maybe they'll combine a couple?

[Walkin Man]

Hey this is great news! I hope the filmmakers stay true to the book.

[JenB]

They could cut "Horse and His Boy", I suppose.

[r9etb]

How do you make five movies out of seven books? What gets cut?

You fold "The Magician's Nephew" into the beginning of "The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe."

You put flashbacks to "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" into "The Silver Chair."

[r9etb]

They could cut "Horse and His Boy", I suppose.

Nah -- that one would make a dandy movie.

[JenB]

It would make a good movie, yes, but you could cut it without hurting the storyline...

[r9etb]

Now if they would just make Lewis's Space Triology....whoa...

Just re-read those. They're OK, but I don't think they'd translate well to film -- the real action is mental.

[presidio9]

"The Boy" is Prince Caspian. More likely they will combine the two.