The third installment in the “Chronicles of Narnia,” “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” began production last week in Queensland, Australia according to Dark Horizons.
The movie is the third in C.S. Lewis’s series of novels about the mythical land of Narnia and its inhabitants. The film was rescued by 20th Century Fox when Disney cut ties with co-producer Walden Media after last year’s “Prince Caspian” wasn’t the box-office blockbuster the House of Mouse wanted.
In “Treader,” Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb – find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship headed for the very edges of the world.
Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits, the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan’s Country – a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader – can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate.
The supporting cast includes several veteran Australian actors, including Gary Sweet, Bruce Spence, Arthur Angel and Shane Rangi, back for his third go-round in Lewis’ fantastical world (donning the guise of a Minotaur, as he did in the two previous films). And, lending his vocal talents again to the project is Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson as the all-powerful ruler of Narnia, Aslan the Lion.
The movie is set for release in 2010.
Prince Caspian was such a disappointment. I hope this one will revive the Narnia franchise.
OK. If they can just get over the hump of the third book, we might actually get the whole set… I suppose that means I need to watch Prince Caspian now…
Dawn Treader is the worst book of the bunch. There is no way they can make a good movie and remain faithful to the book. It is a series of adventures that end with a christian version of the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey (completely incomprehensible B.S. acid trip).
It’s the last book with the Pevensies “as children” so better to get it out of the way.