C.S. Lewis Opposed to Film Versions of Narnia

Reuters reports that writer and theologian C.S. Lewis, who died in 1963, adamently opposed efforts to turn his Chronicles of Narnia into a series of movies.

"I am absolutely opposed -- adamant isn't in it! -- to a TV version," [Lewis] wrote to BBC producer Lance Sieveking, who had created a radio version of his book which had met Lewis' approval. . . .

"Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare -- at least with photography," he wrote.

One wonders how Lewis's opinion might have changed (or been reinforced) had he lived to experience current-day CGI effects and animation. And even if Lewis would have been unhappy with the big-screen version of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he might appreciate that the frenzy surrounding the film has led to a renewed interest in all of Lewis's works.