The Chronicles of Prydain

[D82]

It sounds like you only read Narnia in Spanish otherwise I would have said that Prydain is basically the same reading level as Narnia so if you had no issue with Narnia in English, Prydain won't be a problem either. I don't think it should be difficult for you because they are children's books but I also have to keep in mind that I am a native English speaker so I might be taking the reading level for granted. I hope you do check out the books one day though because they really are superior to the film and this is coming from someone who always liked the film and never understood the hate for it.

Yes, I read the Narnia books in Spanish, but I can imagine their reading level based on the Spanish translation, which wasn't too complicated, so I guess I won't have a problem reading Prydain in English then. I like The Black Cauldron too, so even if the books weren't better than the film, I think I'll still enjoy them. But I'm glad to hear they're superior.

I really hope they adapt all the books and don't just adapt The Black Cauldron (which is the second book in the series in the first place). Right now there's not much information so it sounds like they're just remaking that so I hope they clarify that in the future. They'll probably want to make all of them since Disney+ could use an exclusive franchise TV/movie series.

I hope they adapt all the books too. But, you're right, there's not much info right now. We'll have to wait and see.

[JeanGreyForever]

It sounds like you only read Narnia in Spanish otherwise I would have said that Prydain is basically the same reading level as Narnia so if you had no issue with Narnia in English, Prydain won't be a problem either. I don't think it should be difficult for you because they are children's books but I also have to keep in mind that I am a native English speaker so I might be taking the reading level for granted. I hope you do check out the books one day though because they really are superior to the film and this is coming from someone who always liked the film and never understood the hate for it.

Yes, I read the Narnia books in Spanish, but I can imagine their reading level based on the Spanish translation, which wasn't too complicated, so I guess I won't have a problem reading Prydain in English then. I like The Black Cauldron too, so even if the books weren't better than the film, I think I'll still enjoy them. But I'm glad to hear they're superior.

I really hope they adapt all the books and don't just adapt The Black Cauldron (which is the second book in the series in the first place). Right now there's not much information so it sounds like they're just remaking that so I hope they clarify that in the future. They'll probably want to make all of them since Disney+ could use an exclusive franchise TV/movie series.

I hope they adapt all the books too. But, you're right, there's not much info right now. We'll have to wait and see.

I'm glad to hear you don't think Prydain will be a difficult read for you in English then. Since you like the movie, you'll for sure like the books. The movie is basically the first two books combined.

[Clindor]

One of the rare live-action remake I feel personally interested in, It’s nice to hear they’re still considering it.

Same. I really hope nothing wrong happens to this project and that it does well-enough for the majority of the series to get made. *pleasepleaseplease*

Oh I'd love that too! I share the excitement, although like you I have my fears about it. Just like another popular fantasy saga Disney already handled in the past (Narnia), even with a first successful film, chances are not all the books can end up being adapted before a business like Disney (or lots of other studios in Hollywood to be fair) loses its interest in films that will potentially make less and less money the more they dive into the saga. 5 books are a long way to go as you imply (unless if they merge some of them like they did with 1985 Black Cauldron?..)
Maybe they could decide to make it a series for streaming instead so they may employ most of the books? Well I'm unsure whether it's plausible to make a proper adaptation of the Chronicles of Prydain with the budget of a Disney+ original.. but Lilo & Stitch is on its way, the Mandalorian happened right? So who knows?

[Disney's Divinity]

Good point, Clindor. You're right that even with a successful first film, the likelihood of diminishing returns could end up preventing the series from being finished as well. :/ Of course, I prefer Prydain as a series to Narnia. I like a few of the books of Narnia, but as a series overall, it's kind of a mess... The Wrinkle in Time sequels were the same way. I prefer a series to have the same protagonist throughout its entirety (or at least the majority), but perhaps that's just me.

I would love if this film had an opening credits with tapestries in the same style as those old covers and maps the hard-back books had back when.

[D82]

The movie is basically the first two books combined.

Then I wonder if they'll do the same now with the first live-action installment. That way they could title it The Black Cauldron and really treat it as remake of the animated film. That's if they're planning to release it theatrically; if they're thinking of a TV series, the yes, they'll most likely start with the first book. I guess it all depends on how confident they're in the project. How popular are the books in the US? Are they as well-known as Narnia?

[JeanGreyForever]

The movie is basically the first two books combined.

Then I wonder if they'll do the same now with the first live-action installment. That way they could title it The Black Cauldron and really treat it as remake of the animated film. That's if they're planning to release it theatrically; if they're thinking of a TV series, the yes, they'll most likely start with the first book. I guess it all depends on how confident they're in the project. How popular are the books in the US? Are they as well-known as Narnia?

That's what I'm wondering as well if they'll follow the footsteps of the animated film. However, considering how much flack it got for not being true to the books, I hope they go another route this time. The books aren't super popular anymore. They came out in the 60s and were especially popular in the 80s when fantasy books were at an all time high. However, the failure of the Disney movie and the lack of any other adaptation has meant that they aren't super well known anymore except a lot of current fantasy authors grew up with Prydain so their current works are inspired by the Prydain ones. Narnia is much better known because they had major blockbuster films.

[D82]

The books aren't super popular anymore. They came out in the 60s and were especially popular in the 80s when fantasy books were at an all time high. However, the failure of the Disney movie and the lack of any other adaptation has meant that they aren't super well known anymore except a lot of current fantasy authors grew up with Prydain so their current works are inspired by the Prydain ones. Narnia is much better known because they had major blockbuster films.

Thanks for all the info. Narnia also had adaptations for TV and an animated film, right? While, as you said, The Black Cauldron is the only adaptation the Prydain books have gotten, so I understand why Narnia is much better known.

[JeanGreyForever]

The books aren't super popular anymore. They came out in the 60s and were especially popular in the 80s when fantasy books were at an all time high. However, the failure of the Disney movie and the lack of any other adaptation has meant that they aren't super well known anymore except a lot of current fantasy authors grew up with Prydain so their current works are inspired by the Prydain ones. Narnia is much better known because they had major blockbuster films.

Thanks for all the info. Narnia also had adaptations for TV and an animated film, right? While, as you said, The Black Cauldron is the only adaptation the Prydain books have gotten, so I understand why Narnia is much better known.

Narnia had a really old and cheap animated film which I don't think most people are aware of. It's had TV adaptations in Britain where it's obviously more popular and well known whereas I think most Americans only became familiar with it (such as myself) because of the Disney films.

[blackcauldron85]

When I was super little, PBS played the BBC Narnia miniseries all the time (I think they must have re-ran them for a few years for me to remember them),
so I think after they stopped airing, people younger than me would've known it from the books or Disney films.

From 1988–90, parts of The Chronicles of Narnia were turned into three successful BBC television serials, The Chronicles of Narnia, based on the first four of the seven books. All three were shown on the PBS show WonderWorks and they were nominated for a total of 14 awards, including an Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Children's Program". The three serials were later released as three feature-length films and released on VHS and DVD.

[Disney's Divinity]

My family owned the BBC series on VHS. That was the first way I knew the stories, although I later read them when the film came out.

[D82]

I don't know if the BBC series was also released or shown on TV here in Spain when it first came out, but I know it was released on DVD here when the first Disney movie was in theaters. I haven't seen it, though. The first time I heard about Narnia was when the Disney adaptation was announced and I started reading the books after seeing the first movie.

Narnia had a really old and cheap animated film which I don't think most people are aware of. It's had TV adaptations in Britain where it's obviously more popular and well known whereas I think most Americans only became familiar with it (such as myself) because of the Disney films.

I thought it was better known in the US than it is, but it makes sense it's more popular in the UK given that the books are from there.

[JeanGreyForever]

I don't know if the BBC series was also released or shown on TV here in Spain when it first came out, but I know it was released on DVD here when the first Disney movie was in theaters. I haven't seen it, though. The first time I heard about Narnia was when the Disney adaptation was announced and I started reading the books after seeing the first movie.

Narnia had a really old and cheap animated film which I don't think most people are aware of. It's had TV adaptations in Britain where it's obviously more popular and well known whereas I think most Americans only became familiar with it (such as myself) because of the Disney films.

I thought it was better known in the US than it is, but it makes sense it's more popular in the UK given that the books are from there.

I know my generation became familiar with Narnia because the films came out while we were all in elementary school. Without having had widespread exposure though films or TV, I imagine the current generation isn't as familiar with them. Especially since I've come to realize that Americans really are quite ignorant and generally don't know a great deal of things that aren't perceived 100% American.

[DisneyFan97]

I wonder if this will ever get made

Consdering whast flop the orginal was

[Disney's Divinity]

I wonder if this project is still happening? I would feel like it's more likely the series would finish now, if they do go through with it, since even if the first film doesn't do phenomenal in theaters, the rest would work as prime streaming content.