Three Reasons to Be (Tentatively) Excited About The Silver Chair Movie

The Film’s Makers (So Far)

So, just who will be directing? Well, according to Variety, it’s Joe Johnston, who helmed Captain America: The First Avenger in 2014. That’s a pretty good start to a resume, but it goes on. He also directed Hildalgo, the inspiring story of a horse and his cowboy (played by Viggo Mortensen) who compete in a dangerous race across Arabia. He was behind 1991’s criminally under-seen The Rocketeer, 1995’s Jumanji and 1999’s October Sky, too.

Not everything Johnston has directed has come up roses: His R-rated The Wolfman was a miss. But when he makes movies for a family audience, he’s shown a knack to giving his films both heart and teeth.

Oh, for those worried about losing Lewis’ literary humor (as the former Narnia movies often did), Johnston’s first directorial credit was 1989’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

There’s more: The script has already been adapted by David Magee, who also adapted the gorgeous, soaring Life of Pi in 2012 and was nominated for an Oscar for his adaptation of Finding Neverland.

Both of these gentlemen know how to give a story power and depth without stripping it of fun. And that’s important. Because as fun and thrilling as this book was for 9-year-old me, the themes at work aren’t child’s play.