Oh I know, Disney just doesn't see that! Though on the other hand (somewhat) good news!
It is a rather uncomfortable time for Narnia fans right now as Walden Media continues its search for a studio to distribute "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Many fans have expressed concern that the franchise cannot survive without Walt Disney Pictures even though Walden Media is still committed to it.
A new blog post from the Los Angeles Times shines a ray of hope into the land of Narnia.
The blog claims to have the "secret history" of why Disney backed out, and ends by saying that a few major studios (Fox, Sony, Warners) have expressed interest in picking up 'Dawn Treader,' and Walden Media could announce a new deal as early as later this week. You can view the article here. I'd recommend reading the
entire thing, but here are some of the highlights:
• PC cost $225m to produce and $175m to market
• After LWW hit theaters, Phil Anschutz demanded that Disney either give back a sizable chunk of its distribution fee or he would distribute the Narnia series on his own. Disney complied. But after PC grossed less than expected, Disney decided to back out.
• Disney wanted a Summer release for PC because they saw that it was an edgier, more youth-oriented film and wanted to go for teenagers as well as well as families.
• Walden could announce a new deal as early as later this week.
• 20th Century Fox is interested, having seriously considered acquiring the movie rights to Narnia even before Walden originally landed the franchise. Sony and Warner Bros. have also expressed interest.
• Walden has been aiming for a $140m budget for VDT.
Credit: Narnia Web
smile Edit:
Patrick Goldstein writes:
Quote:
It doesn’t have a lack of suitors. The studio with the inside track is 20th Century Fox, which has first dibs on the project, since it already markets and distributes Walden projects under its Fox-Walden banner. Fox has plenty of interest, having seriously considered acquiring the movie rights to the C.S. Lewis books even before Walden originally landed the franchise. Fox has a strong marketing department, with lot of success with family entertainment–the studio’s biggest hits last year were both family films, “Horton Hears a Who” and the year-ending “Marley & Me.”
But Fox is famous for driving hard bargains and exercising fiscal discipline, so don’t expect to see “Dawn Treader” costing anywhere near $225 million. Walden has been aiming to bring the new film in at around $140 million, which would be a far more enticing price tag for a 50/50 studio partner. If Fox passes, both Sony and Warners have expressed strong interest in the project. It would be a good fit for either studio, giving Sony something it hasn’t had in recent years–a fantasy-oriented family franchise, while it could provide Warners with a ready-made family-oriented franchise to replace the soon-to-be completed “Harry Potter” series. Whatever happens, it seems likely that “Narnia” fans will soon have another chance to visit the enchanted world of Narnia and other distant lands.
He also says that Walden Media could announce a new partner for the Narnia franchise by the end of the week!
Credit: Narnia Fans!
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