Narnia’s ‘Dawn Treader’ sails with Fox

20th Century Fox has announced plans to step into Narnia and partner with Walden Media to bring “Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader” to the screen. The film is still expected to arrive during the 2010 holiday season.

“Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader” has found new life at Fox and could hit theaters in 2010.Variety reports that Fox was entitled to a first look at the project after Disney decided not to co-finance the third Narnia film. Fox and Walden are currently working out issues on the budget and the film’s script. The film will see the return of Ben Barnes as Caspian, Skandar Keynes as Edmund, and Georgie Henley as Lucy. They will be joined by Will Poulter ("Son of Rambo") as Eustace Clarence Scrubb. The film is scheduled to be directed by Michael Apted, and produced by Mark Johnson and Andrew Adamson.The film’s production start date could depend on the writer. Richard LaGravanese wrote the most recent version of the screenplay and it was liked by Fox and Walden. However, the writer might be busy with his adaptation of Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants" for Fox 2000.Fox 2000 had attempted to pick up the screen rights to the Narnia franchise, but was originally beat out by Walden. The studio sees the series as a perfect fit for a much needed family franchise it has lacked since “Eragon” failed to find an audience and its franchise died after the one film.Fox and Walden are expected to split the cost of “Dawn Treader” production. The film is expected to have a workable budget of a $140 million – which would make it much cheaper than the estimated $215 million spent on "Prince Caspian." "Dawn Treader" could be a box office success for Fox and Walden thanks to its family friendly feel, and the fact the studio is expected to return several of the elements (such as the magic) that worked in the first Narnia film.