'Magician's Nephew' to be next Narnia film

The Christian Post spoke with Walden Media, the studio behind the 'Chronicles of Narnia' franchise, confirming next film in the franchise be 'The Magician's Nephew," the penultimate book in the series.

There had been talk after the release of "Prince Caspian" that "The Silver Chair" would be the fourth and possibly final film in the series. The book, which follows "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" chronologically, documents Eustice's return to Narnia.

"We are starting to talk to Fox and talk to the C.S. Lewis estate now about the 'Magician's Nephew' being our next film," Walden Media President Michael Flaherty told the Post.

The decision makes sense. While "The Silver Chair" would have to rely on Eustice (portrayed by Will Poulter in "Dawn Treader") as the only returning human character, "The Magician's Nephew" provides an opportunity to showcase the very birth of Narnia itself. The books follows Digory Kirke (the professor in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe") and his friend Polly Plummer as they meet the White Witch and Aslan for the first time.

Meanwhile, the decision to press on with a fourth film at all showcases the ever-increasing importance of the international box office. "Dawn Treader" made a forgettable $104 million domestically, but has managed to quietly draw in an additional $300 million from overseas. While its total gross is nowhere the success of the first film, it is only $20 million shy of the final numbers boasted by "Prince Caspian."

If "The Magician's Nephew" is indeed made, it will most likely be the last film in the series. With "The Silver Chair" now apparently out of the line-up, the only books left are "The Horse and His Boy," a mostly stand-alone tale set during the time the Pevensie children were ruling Narnia, and "The Last Battle," which is essentially the Book of Revelations with more talking animals. Neither has blockbuster written on it. But who knows, Aslan works in mysterious ways.