Michael Petroni has been hired to write The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader for Walden Media and Fox 2000. He will take over for Richard LaGravanese, who wrote the most recent draft of the C.S. Lewis novel.
Variety says the move signals that Walden is moving full steam ahead on the third chapter in the franchise with its new “Narnia” studio partner, 20th Century Fox. In late December, the project seemed in doubt after Disney decided to pull the plug on co-financing the film.
Walden is eyeing a summer start date for a holiday 2010 release through the Fox Walden label.
Petroni landed the “Narnia” gig based on his recent work for Fox 2000, including a rewrite of the Kevin Lima directing vehicle Afterlife, an adaptation of Markus Zusak’s novel “The Book Thief” and a rewrite of the Julia Roberts starrer Daniel Isn’t Talking.
