It’s been over two years since we heard anything about the Mark Gordon Company’s plans to keep the Chronicles of Narnia film series going, but on Tuesday, the prolific television producer provided a really interesting update.
Gordon spoke with Collider at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, where he was presenting Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Collider asked about The Silver Chair after the presentation.
“We’re hoping to be able to make the movie very shortly. We’re very excited about it,” he said.
When asked if anyone from the previous Narnia films would be asked back, Gordon said no.
“No, it’s all going to be a brand new franchise,” Gordon said. “All original. All original characters, different directors, and an entire new team that this is coming from.”
Technically, Gordon and his team could make The Silver Chair with an entirely new cast without rebooting the franchise because the original C.S. Lewis novel takes place decades after Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which was turned into a film in 2010. However, it sounds like Gordon wants to forget about all three of the previous film adaptations. Of course, if he wants to do that, why start with The Silver Chair?
Narnia has struggled to come to the screen. Originally, Walden Media had the film rights and The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005) and Prince Caspian (2008) were released by Disney. 20th Century fox released 2010’s Dawn Treader. Walden Media then lost the film rights, and Gordon picked them up in October 2013. Two months later, David Magee (Life of Pi) was hired to write The Silver Chair.