The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

For the novel by C.S. Lewis, see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. For other uses, see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 British fantasy adventure movie. It was directed by Andrew Adamson. The movie is based on the famous book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. This book is the first one published in his popular children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia.

The movie was made by Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures. It tells the story of four British children: Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund Pevensie. They are played by William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, and Skandar Keynes. During World War II bombings in London, they go to the countryside for safety. There, they discover a magical wardrobe that leads them to the fantasy world of Narnia. In Narnia, they join the mighty Lion Aslan to fight against the evil Jadis, who is known as the White Witch (Tilda Swinton).

The movie came out on December 9, 2005, in many parts of the world. It was very successful and earned a lot of money at the box office. It won an Academy Award for Best Make Up. It was also the best-selling DVD in North America in 2006. This movie was the first in a series of films based on The Chronicles of Narnia books.

The Story of Narnia
Meet the Cast
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The Story of Narnia

During the 1940s, London was being bombed. The four Pevensie children – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – were sent to live in the countryside. They stayed at the large home of Professor Digory Kirke.

Discovering Narnia

One day, while playing hide-and-seek, Lucy finds a magical wardrobe. It leads her to a snowy world called Narnia. In Narnia, it is always winter because of a curse. Lucy meets a friendly faun named Mr. Tumnus. He tells her about Jadis, the White Witch. The Witch has made Narnia stay in winter for 100 years. She also demands that any human found in Narnia be brought to her. But Mr. Tumnus likes Lucy and helps her return safely home. When Lucy comes back, almost no time has passed in the real world. Her siblings do not believe her story about Narnia.

A few days later, Edmund follows Lucy into the wardrobe. He meets the White Witch and her dwarf servant, Ginarrbrik. The Witch offers Edmund a magical candy called Turkish Delight. She asks him to bring his brother and sisters to her castle. She promises he will become her heir, meaning he would rule Narnia after her. Edmund agrees. Lucy then finds Edmund, and they return together. Lucy tells Peter and Susan that she and Edmund went to Narnia. But Edmund lies and says it is not true. The Professor later talks to Peter and Susan. He tells them that Lucy's story might actually be true.

The Journey Begins

One day, the four siblings accidentally break a window. To hide from the housekeeper, they all run into the wardrobe. This time, they all enter Narnia together. They soon learn that Mr. Tumnus has been taken by the Witch's secret police. They meet friendly talking beavers, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. The Beavers tell them about Aslan. Aslan is a great lion who is coming to free Narnia from the Witch.

The Beavers explain an old prophecy. It says that if two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sit on the four thrones of Narnia, the White Witch's rule will end. The children realize they are the ones the prophecy speaks of. They must help Aslan.

Edmund's Mistake

While at the Beavers' house, Edmund secretly leaves to find the White Witch. When he reaches her castle, she is angry. He came alone, without his siblings. The Witch sends her wolves to find the other children and the beavers. Peter, Lucy, Susan, and the Beavers barely escape.

Edmund is chained in the Witch's dungeon. There, he sees Mr. Tumnus. The Witch demands that Edmund tell her where his siblings are. Edmund hesitates, but then tells her. The Witch then turns Mr. Tumnus into stone. She then begins searching for the other children herself.

Gifts and Hope

Meanwhile, Peter, Lucy, Susan, and the Beavers travel to the Stone Table. They see someone chasing them and hide. It turns out to be Father Christmas! His arrival is a sign that the White Witch is losing her power. Father Christmas gives gifts to the children. Lucy gets a special cordial that can heal any sickness and a dagger for defense. Susan receives a bow and arrows and a magical horn. Peter is given a sword and shield.

The group is chased by wolves led by Maugrim. They cross a river and finally reach Aslan's camp. There, they meet Aslan, a huge and noble lion. Aslan promises to help Edmund. Later, two wolves attack Lucy and Susan by the river. Peter bravely fights and kills Maugrim with his new sword. Aslan's soldiers follow the other wolf and rescue Edmund from the Witch's camp.

Aslan's Sacrifice

The White Witch comes to Aslan's camp. She demands Edmund back, saying he belongs to her. Aslan offers to sacrifice himself instead of Edmund. That night, Lucy and Susan secretly watch. Aslan is killed by the White Witch at the Stone Table. But in the morning, he is resurrected! This happens because of a "deeper magic" the Witch did not know about. Aslan then takes Susan and Lucy to the Witch's castle. There, he brings all the stone prisoners back to life.

The Final Battle

Edmund convinces Peter to fight the Witch. Peter's army starts to lose the battle. To stop the Witch from turning more people to stone, Edmund bravely destroys her magic wand. In doing so, he is badly wounded. As the Witch fights Peter, Aslan arrives. He kills the White Witch with his powerful roar.

The Pevensie children become the Kings and Queens of Narnia. They rule Narnia for many years until they grow into adults.

Returning Home

Fifteen years later, as adults, they find the wardrobe again. They step through it and return to England. When they come out, they are children once more. Professor Kirke enters the room and asks what they were doing. Peter replies, "You wouldn't believe us if we told you, sir." The Professor throws Peter the ball that broke the window and says, "Try me." Later, Lucy tries to go back to Narnia through the wardrobe. But the Professor tells her he has been trying for years, and the wardrobe might not work again.

Meet the Cast

William Moseley as Peter Pevensie, the oldest of the four Pevensie children.
Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie, the second oldest Pevensie child.
Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie, the third Pevensie child.
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie, the youngest of the four Pevensie children.
Tilda Swinton as Jadis, the White Witch, the evil witch who keeps Narnia in endless winter.
Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan, the great lion who created Narnia and sacrifices himself for Edmund.
James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus, a faun who helps Lucy and joins Aslan's forces.
Ray Winstone voices Mr. Beaver, a beaver who guides the children to Aslan.
Dawn French voices Mrs. Beaver, another beaver who helps the children.
Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik, the White Witch's dwarf servant.
Jim Broadbent as Professor Digory Kirke, the old professor who lets the children stay at his home.
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Mrs. Macready, the Professor's strict housekeeper.
James Cosmo as Father Christmas, who gives the children their special gifts.
Michael Madsen as the voice of Maugrim, a wolf and captain of the White Witch's secret police.
Patrick Kake as Oreius, a centaur who is second-in-command of Aslan's army.
Shane Rangi as General Otmin, a minotaur who is second-in-command of the White Witch's army.
Morris Cupton as Train Conductor, the person who works on the train the children ride.
Judy McIntosh as Helen Pevensie, the mother of the four Pevensie children.
Rupert Everett as the voice of a fox who helps the children on their journey.
Noah Huntley as the adult Peter Pevensie, who grows up to be a king in Narnia.
Sophie Winkleman as the adult Susan Pevensie, who grows up to be a queen in Narnia.
Mark Wells as the adult Edmund Pevensie, who grows up to be a king in Narnia.
Rachael Henley as the adult Lucy Pevensie, who grows up to be a queen in Narnia.
Producer Philip Steuer voices Phillip, Edmund's talking horse.

The radio announcer at the start of the movie is played by Douglas Gresham. He was a co-producer and C. S. Lewis's stepson. During filming, Skandar Keynes' voice changed. So, his sister Soumaya had to re-record some of his lines.

Finding the right actors took a long time, starting in 2002. Director Andrew Adamson watched 2500 audition tapes. He met 1800 children before choosing the four Pevensie actors. Tilda Swinton was the first choice for the White Witch. William Moseley and Anna Popplewell were chosen early on. Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes were picked later. Moseley even left school to learn his lines and won the role of Peter over 3000 other boys.

Brian Cox was first planned to voice Aslan. But Adamson changed his mind and chose Liam Neeson instead.

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First Lady of the United States Laura Bush hosts a screening of the film at the White House