News

Disney Skips Out On Third Narnia Film

Disney has announced that it will not exercise its option for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The film is scheduled to be the third in the big budget fantasy franchise, following 2005's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and this year's less commercially successful effort, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Citing financial and logistical reasons, Disney did not elaborate on its reasoning behind dissolving its partnership with Walden Media for the third film. Disney co-produced and co-financed the prior films with Walden. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was in pre-production when Disney's announcement was made. A spring shoot was being planned, with a May 2010 release date being eyed. The Disney dropout may cause delays in the film's production, leaving the status of the actors who were on board to return to their roles, namely Ben Barnes and Georgie Henley, up in the air.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
12.29.08