The Lion, the Writer and the Complications
Door Jam: November 2, 2024
The Door Jam is a place to squeeze in relevant articles written about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their work, adaptations of their fantasy worlds, and other potentially interesting news, information, and articles. Unless otherwise stated, I’m not necessarily endorsing (or criticizing) any of these, but merely sharing them with you.
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As a fan, having a Chronicles of Narnia movie on the big screen (or the biggest screen if we’re talking about Imax) would be my preference. Based on the voting in our poll last week, most of you feel the same way. But we don’t have to navigate all the financial and relational complications that go into this decision (unless of course you are a Netflix executive reading this, and, if you are, please get in touch!).
From what has been reported, we know some basic facts. Gerwig wants her adaptation to have a theatrical release and those discussions are ongoing. Imax would like to have the movie on their screens. Netflix may be open to that possibility.
At this point, however, all the Hollywood business relationships get complicated. If everyone comes to an agreement and Narnia premieres in Imax for a several week run, both Imax and Netflix will have to navigate some issues.
Imax runs the risk of angering partner studios and theater franchises, who all see Netflix as the enemy of their business. Imax may see Narnia as an isolated positive, but not if it causes sustained conflict with the movie makers and theaters they work with regularly.
Most likely, Netflix wants to maintain its strategy of streaming-only, but that has already caused them to lose out on high-profile projects—even on projects where they were, by far, the highest bidder. Many directors want a theater experience for their film and are willing to bypass the extra money from Netflix to make that happen.
If, however, Netflix adjusts its approach for Narnia, other writers/directors will want the same adjustments. Daniel Craig, star of the Knives Out series, has already said he wants the third movie to have a longer theatrical run. There’s no doubt others will want the same. Once Netflix opens the door, that changes all of those discussions.
I’m still hopeful a compromise can be reached, but it’s not as simple as just putting the movie in theaters for a few weeks and everyone is happy.
For more, this piece from IndiWire lays out many of the complications that could hinder our chances of seeing Narnia on the big screen.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
If we cannot lay down our tastes, along with other carnal baggage, at the church door, surely we should at least bring them in to be humbled and, if necessary, modified, not to be indulged?
1951 letter to the editor of The Church Times, The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 3: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy, 1950-1963
Tumnus’ bookshelf
A book by or about C.S. Lewis
While The Screwtape Letters gets ample praise (and rightly so), I don’t feel like Lewis’ other fiction book that goes behind the spiritual curtain garners the attention it deserves. The Great Divorce also highlights temptations and sanctification from an eternal perspective to our earthly benefit.
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Other news highlighted for paid subscribers below includes what makes adapting Narnia a nightmare, a fascinating interview with the writer/illustrator behind The Mythmakers, a conversation with The Rings of Power showrunners, how connected the upcoming Lord of the Rings anime movie is to Tolkien’s writing, the start of a new Star Wars trilogy that is either a continuation of the Skywalker Saga or totally not a continuation of the Skywalker Saga, a Stranger Things season five teaser, a time frame on a Legend of Zelda movie adaptation, and an upcoming movie version of the Genesis creation story from a producer of the early 2000s Narnia movies.
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