Disney Drops Narnia

‘Tis the season to pinch pennies. In an uncharacteristic move for any studio, much less the stalwart House of Mickey, Disney has decided to drop The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the next film scheduled to be adapted from C.S. Lewis' seven Narnia books, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The move is being blamed on budgets and logistics; a director and talent are already attached to the film, with filming set to begin in the spring. Co-producer Walden Media must search for a new partner for the follow-up to Prince Caspian, whose estimated budget was $200 million and which grossed only $141 million domestically. After the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises garnered boffo box office, it appears the fantasy genre is finally faltering (see: The Golden Compass).