The LA Times has a fascinating article on the real reason that Disney is not continuing the Narnia series on film.  Essentially it is a matter of money, both in marketing and in their relationship with Walden Media.  I love seeing the drama behind the drama.

The good news for fans of the films (and I wasn’t a fan of Prince Caspian) is that a third film deal may be announced as early as the end of this week.  Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the next in the series and should be a swashbuckling good time.   I consider the first three books the easiest to make into film.  The others look very daunting.

Catherine Hardwicke will not be returning as the director of the next in the Twilight films.  The studio would like the next film released at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010 and that doesn’t work with Hardwicke’s needed prep time.

It will be interesting to see what feel the new director brings to the next film.  I hope it is as successful and interesting as the Harry Potter changes have been.

The Farrelly brothers will direct the Jonas brothers in a script based on Walter the Farting Dog.  The script was written by Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen of Toy Story fame. 

Sounds like they have talented writers and directors, I’m only sorry to see the Jonas brothers as the main cast.  But I’m obviously not the Disney/Nickelodeon demographic they are going for.

 

You can take a look at the newly released Inkheart trailer here at Moviefone.  Comingsoon also offered links to it and quite a conversation erupted about originality and quality.  I’m not completely sold on the casting of the film.  People certainly don’t look the way I thought they would.

I also have some reservations about a book this literary and verbose being made into what looks like an action film.  Yes, there was plenty of action in the novel, but I remember the stillness in some passages, the tension, the waiting breathlessly.  And I don’t see that here.

How about you?  Are you looking forward to the film?

It looks like Airman by Eoin Colfer may become a motion-capture animated film.  The director will be Gil Kenan who directed Monster House, which was nominated for an Academy Award.  Robert Zemekis will be producing. 

Sounds very promising!  What do you think?

Yes, I know libraries probably still have their made-for-TV Goosebumps movies on VHS.  And in most library, they probably still check out!  Now Columbia Pictures is planning the very first Goosebumps feature film. 

I love the comments on that link where people scoff at the very idea of a feature film and then start trying to guess exactly which book it will be based on.  Sounds like Columbia Pictures may just be onto something.

 

Going through ComingSoon this morning, I found a couple of news items of interest to those who read children’s lit.

Where the Wild Things Are no longer has a release date scheduled.  This is after the release date had been moved back to 2009.  Here’s an LA Times article with details.

PB Kerr’s Children of the Lamp will be adapted for the screen.  Producer Nina Jacobsen will be on the project, which is great news because she was involved in Princess Diaries and Chronicles of Narnia.

What a crop of children’s-book-based films are headed our way!

City of Ember – coming on October 10

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – coming on November 21

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist – coming on October 3

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 – coming on August 6

Tale of Despereaux – coming on December 19

Twilight – coming on December 12

 

I am most looking forward to seeing Tale of Despereaux (love the trailer) and City of Ember, which read like a movie in its book form.  Love that the Sisterhood actresses all returned for the second film.  And I look forward to hearing the Infinite Playlist.