UNITED KINGDOM: Billed as the biggest ever UK film premiere, 'The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian' gets the green carpet treatment in London

Record ID: 218903

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Billed as the biggest ever UK film premiere, 'The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian' gets the green carpet treatment in London
  • Date: 26th June 2008
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 19, 2008) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (English) WILLIAM MOSELEY SAYING: "You know it has sort of changed in a lot of ways. I mean I am wearing a Burberry suit, I never thought I would be in one in all of my life, I am really honoured to be here to have this experience, not many people get it, you can only appreciate it and thank everybody for that support." REPORTER OFF CAMERA ASKING: "With every good comes the bad. Have you been stalked yet?" WILLIAM MOSELEY: I haven't been stalked but I have a Russian kid that saved up for 18 months, turn up at my house in Gloucester in the countryside, and he was convinced I was there when I wasn't. He was convinced that I was in the wardrobe upstairs. And unfortunately my mum being as kind as she is, brought him in for a cup of tea, and showed him some photographs."
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA1N4K6CKOHOVDQN1E8620LSL4Z
  • Story Text: The world of Narnia returns to the big screen with the second film "Prince Caspian" from the third book in the classic C.S. Lewis series.
    Lead Actor Ben Barnes and Director Andrew Adamson were joined on the green carpet by Hollywood star Liam Neeson and fellow cast members Anna Popplewell (as Susan), William Moseley (as Peter) Skandar Keynes (as Edmund), and Georgie Henley (as Lucy) on Thursday (June 19) for the film's premiere at the London's O2 Arena.
    It was billed as the biggest ever UK movie premiere.
    A total of ten thousand fans turned up to the London premiere to watch a special screening of the film on a giant 28 metre screen, the largest screen to be constructed in Europe for a film premiere.
    This time, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' takes on a darker role: The Pevensie children from the first film return to Narnia to find the kingdom overthrown and under control of an evil tyrant, King Miraz (played by Italian actor Sergio Castellitto). The children, with the help of the Narnian creator Aslan (voiced again by Liam Neeson), must return the rightful king, Prince Caspian, to the throne.

    "When I did 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' obviously the scale of everything was a real shock and then I thought I knew what I was going into with Prince Caspian but really there is more of everything of this movie, there is bigger sets more action, more incredible locations so I was blown away all over again."
    On moving to a darker storyline and more brutal battle scenes, the film opens with a young man whose uncle is attempting to kill him in order to gain his throne. So, it starts from a darker place. The last film was all about Spring. And now it's 1,300 years later and the Narnias have been driven into hiding. The world of Narnia has been transformed into a very different place.
    Director Adamson returned to take charge of the second film, after "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" earned $291 million (USD) domestic US gross in 2005. However fortune has not shone on the sequel as the gross U.S. box office takings are down, with the film only making $132 million (USD) in the first month of release according to internet web site Box Office Mojo.

    "We released it in summer rather than the winter holidays,"
    explains David Weil, CEO Anschutz Film Group, the films franchise holding company.

    "I think we run into an unexpectedly strong film with Iron Man opening just before us and Indiana Jones after us, so I think there is a number of reasons why the box office isn't as strong as the first one, but it is still strong enough so that we all believe that we have a franchise on our hands and we are going to continue going forwards."
    That news can only be good news for Georgie Henley, the films youngest cast member.
    The London premiere was held in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity as part of Disney's partnership with the hospital. 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' opens in UK theatres nationwide from June 26, 2008.
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