Empire Magazine Talks “Dawn Treader”

The October issue of Empire Magazine has a four-page article (88-91) on Voyage of the Dawn Treader! Here’s the full title: ”All at Sea: How the latest Narnia movie battled Mexican drug lords, freak storms, and a studio switch to keep the franchise afloat.” According to NarniaWebber ‘icarus,’ the phrase “all at sea” is common in England and means “a state of ‘disorder and confusion.’”

There isn’t much new information about Dawn Treader or the actors. And there are no new photos or screencaps. But the article is interesting nonetheless.

Regarding Disney’s decision to drop the franchise in December 2008,

Ben Barnes: “The producer called me up on Christmas Eve 2008 and just told me, ‘Don’t worry.’ . . .To which my response was, ‘Okay… Do you mind if I do? Just a bit?”

Producer Mark Johnson: “‘It definitely shook us. . . .You wonder, ‘Is anyone going to want us. Will we find the right place?’ It was certainly a blow.”

Mark Johnson also talked about what he feels went wrong with the movie adaptation of Prince Caspian.

“[Looking back on Caspian's lower box office] you can’t say it wasn’t sold right or we picked the wrong release day. You have to look within the movie itself. . . .I think it was probably the book Prince Caspian. It’s less about the Narnian creatures and more about this sort of Shakespearean story about Caspian trying to find out who killed his father. Thisbook is a great adventure. It’s lots of islands where they just keep getting attacked!”

In response, director Michael Apted said Dawn Treader

“is a completely different thing to the last two films. . . .We don’t go to Narnia, we’re creating a whole new world. . . .I think it is a little more grown up. We’ve certainly got some huge impressive scenes. There’s a very big sea battle.” . . .

The Dawn Treader that arrives in Cinemas in December won’t be the version originally planned. In the three years since Apted first came on board, the film has been through countless re-writes, travelled to more locations than even the story’s fantastical voyage can manage, and found a whole new home.

Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie), whom the writer calls “the franchise’s new hero,” gave his thoughts on appearing in Dawn Treader without older screen siblings William Moseley (Peter) and Anna Popplewell (Susan).

“This is Edmund stepping to the fore,” says Keynes, who’s a bit taller and more bulked up than his previous sulkier appearences. “It has been strange sometimes that it’s just Georgie and I, without William . . . and Anna . . . but the sword stuff is a lot of fun.”

So what happens to the future of the franchise? Will The Silver Chair come to the big screen? And will Apted direct it?

Apted: “Would I do it again? . . . It’s a bit too early to answer that. I certainly had no idea what i was letting myself in for and there have been some real testing time, but i think it’s made the film better. Would I do it again? Would I do it again? Never say never.”

Johnson: “We got there in the end. We’ve got a new home. Look, I’m still close with many people at Disney and I firmly believe they wish us well.” He pauses, adjusts his glasses and gives a hint of a giggle. “We’ll maybe not that well.”

Click here to read the complete article, transcribed by NarniaWebber ‘icarus.’

The October issue also contains an article on Movie-Con III highlights. Backstage after Empire’s interview with Ben Barnes and Michael Apted, Barnes said, “It was great, really good questions about Narnia, but also questions for me and Michael. . . .It’s weird when there’s three of you onstage and there’s other people staring at you. It’s a bit like you’re on the dance floor — dance, monkey, dance!” (97-98)

Ben Barnes Fan has scans of both magazine articles. Click here to see 10 thumbnails (which you can click on to make larger for reading).

Images: Ben Barnes Fan (distributor)