C.S. Lewis Gets More Screen Time

By Rafe Telsch

Since The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wadrobe was such a huge success, the world has been waiting for the next adaptation from the works of C.S. Lewis. Now there are two of Lewis’s books heading for the movie theater. Not only is the second Chronicles of Narnia story, Prince Caspian slated to be released next year but now Walden Media and Ralph Winter Productions (a Fox shingle) are adapting Lewis’s Screwtape Letters as well, reports Variety.

While The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe could be considered a loose parable (with Aslan serving as a Jesus figure), Screwtape is a bit more overt in its Christian theming. The story is told as a series of letters from a demon (Screwtape) to his nephew (Wormwood). Through the letters Screwtape advises his protégé on how to undermine mankind and faith, serving as a series of observations on humanity and Christianity.

Lewis’s original novel was published in 1942, with HarperSanFrancisco taking over publishing rights in 2001. In the last six years, Harper has sold almost one million copies of the novel. That’s a lot of near-guaranteed ticket sales for the movie adaptation.

Edmund a Problem for Prince Caspian

With The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian set to enter production this February, associate producer from Walden Media, Bob Beltz, has popped up to explain what challenges they face in making a Narnia sequel. One such problem is the kids. All four are returning to the film and, since they were young, a couple years is like a decade on growth.

Bob Beltz Updates on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The good people over at InfuzeMagazine recently sat down with Bob Beltz to discuss a few of his upcoming projects including Prince Caspian.

After confirming that the film's production date was this month, Beltz went on to discuss the finished script for Caspian.

It's pretty close. Andrew Adamson is gonna direct again. Most of the same crew is working on this one. Mark Johnson will produce again. A lot of the cast and crew will be the same. Now, I don't think that will the case for all seven. I don't think Andrew Adamson wants to spend the rest of his life on this one series.

But the script... let me put it this way: All of the elements from the book are present. It's not as easy of a book to adapt as The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was simply because it has a little bit of a different structure and Andrew wanted to rearrange some of the elements for dramatic effect. But everything that is in the book will be in the film.

One problem the film will encounter are the children or, more specifically, Edmund (Skandar Keynes). Being the second youngest of the cast, Keynes will look er, different for the second installment.

And we're actually using the same four kids and I know that three of them actually look almost the same as they did. Skandar [Keynes] who played Edmund has grown about seven inches and looks like a full blown adolescent now. In the Lewis story, there's only a year that has taken place between the first and second book and I think that will just get left a little open ended. The big challenge is going to be Edmund I think.

Beltz goes on to confirm that the third Narnia installment, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, has already been greenlit. He also says that the next two films will be filmed in a Lord of the Rings-like fashion, with each coming out only a year apart.

Thanks to 'Samantha' for the heads up on the link found at CS.

C.S. Lewis' Next Hollywood Project

The Screwtape Letters gears up for production.

February 1, 2007 - C.S. Lewis may be best known for his Chronicles of Narnia series of books, but with the success of the first Narnia film, it seems Hollywood is ready to start adapting the author's other works as well. First up: a big screen version of Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.

Ralph Winter Prods. is producing the film along with Walden Media, reports Variety. Walden is no stranger to Lewis' work, having already worked with Disney on the first Narnia, as well as its upcoming sequel Prince Caspian.

Planned for a 2008 release, Screwtape Letters is described as follows: "[It] takes the form of a series of missives from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his wannabe diabolical nephew, Wormwood. As a mentor, Screwtape advises his protégé on the finer points of undermining faith and promoting sin. His instructions are interspersed with observations on human nature and Christian doctrine."

Since 2001, almost one million copies of the trade paperback book have sold. Not bad for a novel first published in 1942.

Could McAvoy Leave Narnia for Starfleet Academy?

By Michelle

Casting rumours for Star Trek XI have been swirling for months, with names like Tom Cruise and Matt Damon being dropped as potential Captain Kirks. Now Scottish actor James McAvoy is said to have the inside track for a role for which he has the perfect accent.

The UK's Sunday Mail reported that McAvoy, who played Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and earned good reviews as Dr. Garrigan in The Last King of Scotland, is keen to play Montgomery Scott in the film. "I have a passion for sci-fi. Films, books, memorabilia, art - I'm an addict," the actor reportedly said, explaining that he grew up reading The Lord of the Rings and watching Star Trek.

The article claims that an insider said the producers think "the 28-year-old is perfect for the iconic role", though it also states as fact that Damon has been cast as Kirk - something repeatedly denied by both Damon's publicist and the studio, which refused to comment on casting.

"The producers are keen to have a Scottish Scotty and James is the No.1 choice," stated the unnamed insider. "He's Scottish and has box office appeal so he fulfils both criteria." Scotty was played on the television show by the late James Doohan.

The original article is Here!!!