Disney and Walden Media to produce “The Narnia Chronicles"

Walt Disney Studio’s and Walden Media have come to an agreement to co-finance and distribute the motion picture of the best selling novel ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe'. This, the first book of the series by C.S Lewis, was announced to be made into a feature-length film by the Chairman of Walt Disney Studio’s Dick Cook and Chief Executive Officer of Walden Studio’s Cary Granat. The agreement allows for the partnership to take place and continue for future films. The movie, which will be directed by Andrew Adamson (director of Shrek and Shrek 2), is scheduled for release in Christmas 2005.

‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’, the first of a classic series of seven novels from C.S Lewis’ "The Chronicles of Narnia" sold around 85 million copies worldwide and was published in 1950. The novel is a fantasy story of the battle between good and evil where the great lion, Aslan takes on the forces of darkness in a magical world called Narnia. An evil White Witch has placed the land of Narnia under a spell, which keeps the land in winter for a hundred years. However, it had been foretold that four humans would help Aslan to break this spell. The story follows the Pevensie siblings, Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter (as the four humans) who discover the entrance to the enchanted land of Narnia through a wardrobe and begin a magical journey to aid Aslan break the spell.

Mr. Cook, when commenting on the announcement says, “With an exciting and meaningful plot and well-drawn, emotional characters, 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' has the potential to be just the start of an extraordinary series of films; the exceptional imagination present in the novels follows in the best Disney tradition. We’re pleased to be partnered once again with Walden Media – I think this is just the kind of movie audiences are looking for, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring it to the screen.”

In addition, co-founders of Walden Media, Cary Granat and Michael Flaherty said, "Disney has been a great friend and partner, with our company, on ‘Holes’, ‘Ghosts of the Abyss’, and this summer’s ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. The combination of C.S.Lewis’ visionary 'Chronicles of Narnia' with the incredible strength and uniqueness of the Walt Disney brand and organisation makes this a true dream project for us. This is one of the most imaginative novels ever written, and to bring it to the screen requires a director of equal inventiveness, ingenuity, and spirit. Andrew Adamson is just the guy – he knows better than anyone how to create magic on-screen and tell a story that touches the audience’s hearts. His expertise in visual effects, animation, and live-action will be critical to a fantasy work of this magnitude”.

Director Andrew Adamson added, "The Chronicles of Narnia were an important part of my childhood just as they are to millions of fans around the world. I hope to bring to the screen a movie that is as real to the audience as Narnia was to me as a child. ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ tells an epic story of great heart, of a family torn apart by a war in our world, who are united in their struggle to save the magical land of Narnia. It’s been a long time dream of mine to bring these classic stories to a new generation of moviegoers and readers.”