Well, tonight The Hollywood News spent the best part of four hours in the enchanting, snow filled setting of London’s Leicester Square for the 2010 Royal Film Premiere of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER. We mixed with the stars, interviewed the main cast and watched last year’s X-Factor winner Joe McElderry sing the theme song from the new movie itself.
Her majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip were also in attendance for the world premiere of the third film in the hit franchise, this time brought to the screen by 20th Century Fox and British director Michael Apted.
Here, we catch up with the stars on the red carpet.
Gary Sweet – (Lord Drinian)
What was the most challenging part of the filming?
The most challenging part of the filming? It was getting to the lunch queue before some of those kids on the show! I’m talking about Skandar, Ben, and Will! No, it was such a joy, such an astonishing, overwhelming experience. There was nothing really challenging at all about it. I just loved being part of it.
Had you read the novels before?
Yeah! I read the books as a kid you know, and forty years later and I’m in one of them. I can’t believe it! How does that happen?
Which book was your favourite?
Look, I like The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader…
You are obviously Antipodean… Can we expect to see you in another fantasy film being shot on the Antipodes any time soon?
Oh, would you be referring to the New Zealand one?
That would be the one sir…
Oh. Can’t give much away… No. I think one fantasy is enough for me. Unless there’s a massive offer!
Peter Jones (Dragon’s Den)
You are a fan of the franchise then Peter?
How can I not be? I’ve got little ones that absolutely idolise these films. Prince Caspian was our favourite, but I think tonight might beat it all, and we’re going to see it in 3D.
It’s quite exciting in 3D.
Exactly. I’ve never seen a 3D film.
Have you not?
Never. No.
I was about to ask you, as a businessman, what your take on the 3D fad was but…
Well, I think when they get 3D, and then incorporate it into your lens for you glasses.. then that would be great. Wouldn’t it?
Like a virtual reality headset type thing?
Yes.
Have you ever considered investing in films?
No. The risk factor is so huge isn’t it. I think that you have really got to know the industry… you’ve really got to get into it and I don’t know the industry well enough to take the punt.
So in terms of Dragon’s Den pitches, we shouldn’t really advise people going into the den to pitch films…
No, if you’re going into the den, don’t pitch a film, because I will be out!
Georgia Henley (Lucy)
Hi how are you doing?
Good to see you guys.
You must be slightly cold?
I feel actually better when I’ve got this off (referring to her coat) as I feel a lot more glamourous.
(American journalist) One of my site members asked me to ask you if you have written any more books?
Oh they were hardly books to begin with, they were about ten pages long. No, I’m really busy with school work right now and this so no, I haven’t.
How do you find fitting the school work in? I mean you are about to do GCSE’s right?
It’s very difficult but I like to think that I work quite hard, so yeah, I try to fit it all in.
Is that why you have perhaps not done a lot outside of the Narnia franchise?
Um, yes. I kind of wanted to have a childhood almost , but now I am really ready to go further with the whole acting thing.
Have you seen the film yet?
I have seen it in 2D, but I haven;t seen it in 3D so I am very excited.
Big night then?
Very big night for me, yes!
Skandar Keynes (Edmund)
Was it a still set aboard The Dawn Treader, or was there movement involved?
When we were actually filming they actually rocked it a bit, and it was quite fun.
Gary, who plays Lord Drinian says that you guys always beat him to the food cart…
Yes, you wait for the food cart to come up the ship’s steps and you get swamped!
Now, you’re not the only chap to be involved in a school boy’s fantasy… Edmund versus Harry Potter?
Oh, Edmund every day! Okay, so we don’t have magic but….
He doesn’t have swords!
Right!
Are you working on any non-Narnia stuff at the moment as this is your last film?
No, not at the moment, but I am looking forward to going on and doing other things.
And what was it like working in 3D on this. It’s the first Narnia in the new format. What was the difference like on set?
Well, the technology now is that you can covert it afterwards. We weren’t filming it as a gimmicky thing where things were going to come out at you and it’s really just about adding a little something extra to it and making it a more exciting and awe inspiring experience.
And you’re yet to see it? Tonight’s the first night?
Tonight’s the first night to see how it has all come together.
William Moseley (Peter)
How are you doing?
Not too bad, yourself?
Freezing? Yes, well, join the club .
Well you look not quite as well dressed as we are…
It’s alright you know, we’re all getting through it. We’re all on the same boat so… even if you don’t feel cold, you can look up and there’s some fake snow and some real snow….
Yes, we can’t tell the difference… Talking of boats, were you sad that you didn’t get to be on the boat in this one?
You know, I was a little bit. My time in Narnia was done. I’m happy to move on and step into the real world of acting now. It is sad, but it’s also the way it’s meant to be.
In terms of stepping into the real world, what sort of roles are you going for?
I’m about to shoot a film with Ben Kingsley about Harvard University in the 1930’s, so that’s really exciting. It’s going to be fun, and Emma Roberts is in it as well . There’s a few more things that I am circling right now, but they are unconfirmed so I don’t want to talk about it until we’re shooting.
In your role as Peter, do you have any strategies that you draw from yourself into the role?
The whole thing pretty much. I’m the oldest of three, so the family element to the movie is always there for me
Will Poulter (Eustace)
Hi Will, how are you?
How are you doing? Are you alright? We’ve met before haven’t we?
We have. Good to see you again.
And you, great! I can’t believe I’m here, you know with Ben and Skandar and Georgie. It’s fantastic. I feel really fortunate to be here.
After Son Of Rambow, the world must have been your oyster in terms of roles because you were so well praised for that. Why Narnia?
I was very lucky to be part of Son Of Rambow and equally lucky to be part of Narnia. When the opportunity came up for the audition for Narnia, I jumped for it because it is such a prestigious project and I feel very priviledged to get the chance to work on it.
And your character is quite prominent in the next one, and we don;t want to skip to the next one already, but are there any plans for a fourth movie yet?
There are talks yes… I’m not sure. I can’t really say anything at the moment but potentially… we will just have to see. At the moment, I am just pleased to be part of this one and the promotion of it.
Michael Apted (director)
Hi Michael. This is your first 3D film. Tell us about the process in bringing this film to the screen.
Well, not only is it my first 3D film, it’s my first real visual effects film, and that was scary you know? It was a big part of the movie and I didn;t really have the first idea of how to approach it. I have done a Bond, and I had learned on the Bond movie to do it step by step. You don’t panic and say what the hell am I going to do, and you have good people around you and you are not afraid to ask questions or to say look, I haven’t a clue ow to do this. I mean, I still don;t have a clue how they did some of it to be honest with you. How they did those animals… it’s unbelievable. That was for me a great challenge and made it really exciting.
Why did you choose to go with the post production 3D rather than filming in 3D?
Well, I think frankly until Avatar came out ,people were still iffy about it, and to do it originally in 3D it is more expensive, and slower, so I think that there was some caution about it and once people can see what it can do and what Cameron did with it, I think that it opened up the doors… and we did all of our CGI anyway in 3D. The animals were rendered in 3D, so we had a head start. We weren’t scrambling at the end for it.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER opens in cinemas in the UK on December 9th. Take a look at the rest of our pics from the night below.
