What should (or shouldn't) be expanded in a Netflix series?
Posted: Oct 15, 2018 3:16 pm
When the conversation about Narnia on Netflix got rolling, one of the first things I saw fans speculating about was whether or not a television adaptation would add a lot of filler.
My gut reaction is that blowing up the source material isn't a good idea, but thinking back to the Walden Trilogy, there are actually a number of expansions or additions that I liked: the big battle scene in LWW, for instance, which got very few lines in the book. I don't have a problem with additions like General Oreius; on the contrary I think he adds to the movie. But I also hate the idea of expanding so much on what Lewis wrote that it feels like every nook and cranny of the story is stuffed with fan fiction. So where do you draw the line?
When thinking about Netflix possibly kicking off the series with The Magician's Nephew and knowing that the filmmakers may be keen on expanding the material, something I've wondered is if they might include Jadis's attack on Narnia after the Tree of Protection dies as an epilogue or cliffhanger or even a whole episode. Or beyond that, other events in early Narnian history like the founding of Archenland or Calormene, or the reign of Queen Swanwhite mentioned by Jewel in LB. Is it possible for filmmakers to explore these breadcrumbs that Lewis left in the books without it feeling like the story is wandering completely off track?
My gut reaction is that blowing up the source material isn't a good idea, but thinking back to the Walden Trilogy, there are actually a number of expansions or additions that I liked: the big battle scene in LWW, for instance, which got very few lines in the book. I don't have a problem with additions like General Oreius; on the contrary I think he adds to the movie. But I also hate the idea of expanding so much on what Lewis wrote that it feels like every nook and cranny of the story is stuffed with fan fiction. So where do you draw the line?
When thinking about Netflix possibly kicking off the series with The Magician's Nephew and knowing that the filmmakers may be keen on expanding the material, something I've wondered is if they might include Jadis's attack on Narnia after the Tree of Protection dies as an epilogue or cliffhanger or even a whole episode. Or beyond that, other events in early Narnian history like the founding of Archenland or Calormene, or the reign of Queen Swanwhite mentioned by Jewel in LB. Is it possible for filmmakers to explore these breadcrumbs that Lewis left in the books without it feeling like the story is wandering completely off track?