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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Disney, 2005)
In 2000, producer Perry Moore approached the C. S. Lewis estate about a film adaptation of Lewis’s beloved novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Walden Media acquired film rights in 2001. Director Andrew Adamson then prepared a script from his memories of the novel. After nearly two years of casting, principal filming began on June 28, 2004, in New Zealand and ended the following February. Other filming locations included Poland and the Czech Republic. Weta Workshop, Rhythm and Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Industrial Light and Magic provided visual effects. Harry Gregson-Williams composed the score, which was recorded in London and Los Angeles. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe premiered in London on December 7, 2005, before a wide release on December 8-9, and grossed $744 million worldwide (as of July 2006). It received 12 awards, including a 2006 Academy Award for “Best Achievement in Makeup,” and 36 nominations.
Prince Caspian (Disney, 2008)
Director Andrew Adamson finished the script of Prince Caspian before the premiere of Wardrobe. Principal filming began on February 12, 2007, again in New Zealand, and ended that September. Other locations included Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. Weta Workshop again provided visual effects, along with the Moving Picture Company and Framestore. Harry Gregson-Williams returned to compose the score, which was recorded in London. Prince Caspian premiered in New York City on May 7, 2008, before a wide release on May 16, and grossed $419 million worldwide (as of March 2009). It received 2 awards and 17 nominations.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (20th Century Fox, 2010)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader almost wasn’t made.
Michael Apted replaced Andrew Adamson as director in 2007, with filming planned for winter 2008 and a summer 2009 premiere. However, after problems with the cast’s schedules and filming locations, and arguments over the script and a filming budget due to Prince Caspian‘s grosses (which were less than Wardrobe), Disney dropped the project in December 2008. 20th Century Fox then picked it up the following month, a move that relieved many Narnia fans. Principal filming began on July 27, 2009, in Gold Coast, Australia, and ended that November. Weta Workshop, the Moving Picture Company, and Framestore are again providing visual effects, with Cinesite and Mill Films now on board. David Arnold is composing the score, while Simon Pegg has replaced Eddie Izzard as the voice of Reepicheep. Regarding marketing, a teaser trailer of Dawn Treader was released on June 17, 2010, and a DVD trailer on August 4. Movie clips appeared on Group Publishing’s “Fun for the Whole Family Hour” on August 19. 20th Century Fox has also teamed up with Operation Christmas Child and National Geographic. Dawn Treader has been chosen as a 3-D Royal Film Performance this November. It will premiere in London on December 10, in 2-D and 3-D.
Images: Walt Disney Pictures (via Wikipedia) / 20th Century Fox