Next ‘Narnia’ film snags ‘Captain America’ director

With the obscene amount of money Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” made, it seemed a big screen adaptation of the popular “The Chronicles of Narnia” books was a recipe for success. But “The Chronicles of Narnia” films were made, and they were… pretty good? Not bad? Just a tad above mediocre?

After 2010’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” was met with mixed to negative reviews, it looked like the franchise was dead. But it seems Sony hasn’t given up on Narnia at all, and they've already attached a director to “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.”

“Captain America: The First Avenger” director Joe Johnston will be directing the film franchise's fourth entry, which in turn is based on the Narnia book series’ fourth volume of the same name, published in 1953.

Johnston, who also directed 1995’s “Jumanji,” 1991’s “The Rocketeer,” and 1989’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” was an effects artist on the original “Star Wars” and effects artist and art director on “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“Joe is a wonderful storyteller who is equally at home in the biggest franchises and the most intimate character pieces,” said film co-producer Mark Gordon. “Because C.S. Lewis’ story is iconic and epic, but also tender, personal, and emotional, he’s the perfect choice to bring ‘The Silver Chair’ to the screen.”

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” will be a reboot of the film franchise. Conveniently, “The Silver Chair” is the first book in the series without the Pevensie children. Set decades after the events of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” it instead centers on Eustace Scrubb (previously portrayed by Will Poulter), whom Aslan tasks with finding Prince Rilian, the son of the now elderly Caspian. Scrubb is joined his by classmate, Jill Pole, in this adventure.

The movie’s script was penned by “Life of Pi” screenwriter David Magee. With Johnston now on board, however, this draft could still be subject to revisions.

It remains to be seen whether or not “The Silver Chair” will reignite interest in the film franchise. The first Narnia movie, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” performed admirably in the global box office, making over $745 million. Its sequels “Prince Caspian” and “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” however, didn’t fare as well either financially or critically.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” has yet to be given a release date. — BM, GMA News