Netflix is developing new ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ films and TV shows

Disney

• Netflix announced Wednesday that it’s developing films
  and TV shows based on C.S. Lewis’ fantasy book series, “The
  Chronicles of Narnia.”
• Disney released three films based on the books in 2005,
  2008, and 2010, which wavered at the box office after the first
  movie, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
• But Netflix’s deal is just the latest effort from a streaming
  company to develop big-budget fantasy titles.

Netflix announced Wednesday that it’s developing films and TV
shows based on C.S. Lewis’ classic-fantasy book series, “The
Chronicles of Narnia.”

Netflix said that it will develop the titles under a
new multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis
Company, marking the first time that a company has held the
rights to all seven books.

“It is wonderful to know that folks from all over are
looking forward to seeing more of Narnia, and that the advances
in production and distribution technology have made it possible
for us to make Narnian adventures come to life all over the
world,” said Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis, in a
statement. “Netflix seems to be the very best medium with which
to achieve this aim, and I am looking forward to working with
them towards this goal.”

Disney released three films based on the books in 2005, 2008,
and 2010. The first, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” made
$745 million worldwide. The second, “Prince Caspian,” grossed
$419 million worldwide. And the third, “The Voyage of the Dawn
Treader,” made $415 million, according to figures from Box Office Mojo.

After the first movie, Disney’s adaptations wavered at the box
office. A fourth film, “The Silver Chair,” which director Joe
Johnston (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) was attached to
direct, never saw the light of day.

But the Netflix deal could signal a battle of big-budget fantasy
titles in the streaming wars. HBO is developing a prequel to its
hit series “Game of Thrones,” Amazon bought the rights to the
“Lord of the Rings” series in a major $250 million deal, and
Showtime is developing a series based on the popular video-game
franchise, “Halo.”