This can’t come as much of a surprise considering Prince Caspian did $150 million less business than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as THR confirms rumors saying Walt Disney Pictures has bailed on co-producing and co-financing the next Narnia movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with Walden Media.
The rumor first started back on March 18 and I quickly received a rude email from Disney publicists telling me the rumor was “entirely false” and told me I had no integrity in reporting it. In April the rumor showed up again. No nasty email that time. Now, we have confirmation the film originally slated for a May 7, 2010 is in for a bumpy ride.
Apparently the Disney departure puts the cast and director in doubt. Michael Apted was set to take over for Andrew Adamson and production was supposed to begin in Spring, but everything is now up for grabs. The THR article points out Walden’s relationship with Fox, but also mentions how Prince Caspian cost $200 million to produce, a hefty price tag for an incoming studio knowing the second film did less than half of the business of the first.
Will another studio step in? Does anyone care?
