C.S. Lewis movies in the works

From David J. Theroux, founder and president of the C. S. Lewis Society of California, information about several upcoming movies based on books by C. S. Lewis:

With the enormous film success of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," based on the first volume of C.S. Lewis's beloved 7-volume series, "The Chronicles of Narnia," plans are underway at Walden Media to produce the following films based on other Lewis novels, for public release as follows:

"Prince Caspian" -- mid-2008
"The Screwtape Letters" -- Christmas 2008
"Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader'" -- mid-2009
"The Silver Chair" -- mid-2010

In addition, the Duncan Group is in post-production for the forthcoming program for PBS:

"Myth, Imagination & Faith: A Spiritual Journey through Literature"

Featuring the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis, this new documentary will explore the central theme of "the true myth" with experts and scholars weighing in from various perspectives. The show plans to follow in the traditions of both the acclaimed programs, "The Magic Never Ends" and the PBS special "The Question of God."

• Related link: C.S. Lewis resources from Ignatius Press and IgnatiusInsight.com.

Comments

[Shaun G]

How the heck are they going to turn "The Screwtape Letters" into a movie? Aside from the fact that there isn't much action to depict ... this isn't like "Narnia," where Christianity is referred to indirectly by allegory; in "Screwtape," Christianity is overtly the main topic -- and moreover, the thesis of the book is that the "Hollywood" lifestyle is all a deception.

What studio is gonna distribute something like that?

[Adam Janke]

I'm not quite sure, Shaun, what kind of artistic license they are planning on with the Screwtape letters! However, they did a wonderful job with the first installment of Narnia, so I'm glad that the film wasn't a "one hit wonder", and they are going forward to make more of the movies. I hope they complete all 7 of them sometime before I'm pushing up daises.

[Rick]

I think Hollywood likes and realizes one important thing, "$$$$$." They know that if a Christian movie is done well it will draw audiences, sell videos and thus reap "$$$$$$$$$." That should be motivation enough for them to stay true to the scripts, otherwise it will hit them where it hurts.

[Ed Peters]

The Screwtape Letters as radio drama, terrific. But as film? I don't think so. Hmmmm. Note to Brumley: I think it might be time to dust off the 1917 Code publishing contract and see who has the movie rights. I think I do...

[Patrick Kinsale]

I'd rather see The Great Divorce on film than Screwtape. And any consideration of the science-fiction trilogy? I must admit I don't care for them all that much.

[gresham]

I don't know about the first 2 books in the Space Trilogy but "That Hideous Strength" would make such a great movie. But what I really want to see are some of Charles William's novels made into movies!

[Mark Brumley]

I doubt that you have movie rights to your translation of the 1917 Code, Dr. Peters. I believe we covered the movie contingency in the agreement and I am confident Ignatius Press has rights. I think that under the terms of our agreement you are to be consulted in the matter of who has the lead, but you do not retain rights to the film version nor do you have a veto in the matter of the lead.

[Nick Milne]

I've often pined for the possibility of a gritty and uncompromising adaptation of 'Til We Have Faces, but it doesn't seem likely that Holywood is capable of producing a film of the caliber that would demand.

[Publius]

Maybe Hollywood will rewrite The Screwtape Letters so that Uncle Screwtape's a sympathetic character and Wormwood's the hero.

[Ed Peters]

I could see Nicholas Cage as me.

[Carl Olson]

Yes...Nicholas Cage...hmmm...he does have your stinging wit and interest in canon law. But I'm a bit concerned about his need to use foul language and have at least one fit of hysteria in nearly every movie he's in.

[Ed Peters]

Yeah, stinging wit, colorful language, prone to hysteria....I'm sold.

[Nick Milne]

Since they're doing a film adaptation of Milton's Paradise Lost, perhaps we ought to lobby for Lewis' Preface to Paradise Lost to precede it as an animated short.

Pixar could do it.