“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” at more than one stage in its eventual development appeared destined to remain in stasis. Yet, now the international trailer has arrived here courtesy of Coming Soon.
After the critical and commercial disappointment of the second chapter: ‘Prince Caspian,’ Walt Disney slept on the project for a long period before passing its option to co-finance the third instalment.
The reason simple: budget. A Narnia film commands a high cost production and while Walden Media assessed that a budget of $140 million was required, Disney preferred a bottom line of $100 million. Consequently, the companies went their separate ways having failed to reach a compromise, with Walden later signing an agreement with FOX some weeks later.
The film, adapted from the fifth entry of C.S. Lewis’ epic series, will see Lucy and Edmund Pevensie transported back to Narnia, with their brat-of-a-cousin Eustace unsuspectingly along for the ride too. Reacquainting with the now King Caspian and reepicheep aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader, they become embroiled in a quest with the rest of the crew across the Eastern Seas in search for the Seven Lost Lords of Narnia.
All the principle cast have returned for “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” with Ben Barnes (Caspian), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), Georgie Henley (Lucy) taking centre stage with newcomer Will Poulter (Eustace); last seen in his big-screen début “Son of Rambow.”
Initial reactions to the trailer are positive. English director Michael Apted (“The World Is Not Enough”), who originally signed on to helm way, way back in 2007, appears to hit the right tone and visuals for a family orientated fantasy adventure with the necessary hints of edge/darkness to heighten it’s urgency. However, it is yet to be seen how the post-conversion 3D process will come out on this picture.
But, if past experience has taught anything with effects driven fantasy films, “The Golden Compass” we’re looking at you, trailers have a nasty ability to showcase a film positively, before letting you down when you have to watch the rest of the film that goes around them. The voyage sets sail December 10. – Matthew Richardson
