New director for Narnia’s third instalment

Michael Apted signs up for the children’s fantasy franchise

Jun 20 2007

After we reported in April that Michael Apsted was the name on everyone's lips to direct the third episode of Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media’s 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' it's now been confirmed.

He's tipped to begin filming in January 2008 with the flick currently scheduled for release in May 2009.

This is Apted’s first foray into children's films - his previous work includes 'Amazing Grace', 'The World is Not Enough', 'Gorky Park', 'Gorillas in the Mist' and 'Coal Miner’s Daughter'.

Returning cast members include Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian), Georgie Henley (Lucy) and Skandar Keynes (Edmund).

Singing Apted’s praises, Walt Disney’s Oren Aviv told Screen Daily, ‘He brings his own unique sensibilities, film-making experience, and vision to the project.

‘This latest Narnia adventure will take people to an entirely different side of Narnia that no one has ever seen before, and is filled with lots of action, adventure, magic and wonder.’

Following the huge international success of the first Narnia film in 2005 which took approximately £390m worldwide, the second film in the series - 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' directed by Andrew Adamson - will hit cinemas in 2008.

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