WALT DISNEY - DISNEY TO MAKE NARNIA FILM

Bosses at WALT DISNEY are lining up an ambitious project to co-finance and distribute THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE - following the massive success of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.

Based on the popular childrens' books by CS LEWIS, the film will receive a $100 million (GBP52.6 million) budget in an attempt to emulate the critical and commercial success of director PETER JACKSON's interpretation of JRR TOLKIEN's fantasy novels.

Walt Disney chairman RICHARD COOK says, "It's a very, very ambitious project and one that we believe could be very important to the studio."

The film has been scheduled for release in Christmas 2005.