The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

It's not surprising that Disney and Walden Media would want to pursue adapting the other books in C.S. Lewis's best-selling fantasy series, after The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe became the second highest grossing film of 2005, the third highest grossing live action film domestically in Disney's history (behind Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Hollywood Pictures' The Sixth Sense) and the company's all-time #1 live action film worldwide. (It's since been surpassed by Pirates sequel Dead Man's Chest.) Caspian catches up with the four Pevensie children, who return to Narnia to find that one thousand years have passed since they left. They are again enlisted to join the magical world's colorful creatures in an effort to combat an evil villain preventing the rightful prince from ruling. On Groundhog Day 2006, Disney and Walden officially announced the commencement of preproduction on this sequel.

Wardrobe's director Andrew Adamson, composer Harry Gregson-Williams, and most of its principal cast are back for this follow-up. Returning actors include William Moseley (Peter), Anna Popplewell (Susan), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), Georgie Henley (Lucy), and Liam Neeson (as the voice of Aslan). Among the new additions is Ben Barnes, a 25-year-old English stage and film actor, who will portray the titular teen prince Caspian. Peter Dinklage, memorable as the demanding, petite author in Elf, has signed on to play Trumpkin the Dwarf. Spanish actress Alicia Borrachero (star of "Hospital Central", Spain's equivalent of "ER") has been cast as Prunaprismia, queen of Narnia and wife of the evil General Miraz, while Belgium's Vincent Grass will tackle the role of Doctor Cornelius. Several major parts -- including King Miraz and Reepicheep the mouse -- remain to be cast.

Filming began February in New Zealand before moving to Prague and Slovenia for the brunt of photography. Originally planned for release on December 14, 2007, Caspian is now scheduled to reach theaters on May 16, 2008. In a January 2007 interview, Walden Media's Bob Beltz revealed that the third Narnia book -- The Voyage of the Dawn Trader -- has been greenlit for adaptation and that plans are in motion for this and The Silver Chair to film close enough to release one new Narnia film a year.