It's Official!! Caspian in Production

This morning, Walt Disney Pictures issued a press release formally announcing that Disney and Walden Media will be working together once more to bring The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian to the screen.

Rumors had been circulating since last November that the project had been greenlighted. Most recently, Irish papers reported that Disney reps were scouting locations there for the sequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

And less than a week ago, the reason for the protracted delay in making the announcement became clear. It wasn't that either company was disappointed in Lion's boxoffice text; rather, there were simply bigger fish for Disney to fry. Wrapping up the deal to acquire Pixar undoubtedly had Disney execs preoccupied for a while.

Prince Caspian is planned to go into production this fall with Andrew Adamson again at the helm and Anna Popplewell, William Mosely, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley again starring as the Pevensie children. The film is slated for a late 2007 release.

The Hollywood Reporter has some nice details you won't find in the official press release. Oh—and HecklerSpray gets the honors as the first media site to whine about these developments.