THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA - HISTORY BOYS STAR DITCHES PLAY FOR DISNEY FILM

HISTORY BOYS STAR DITCHES PLAY FOR DISNEY FILM

London's National Theatre is threatening to sue THE HISTORY BOYS star BEN BARNES after he left the West End production of the Tony award-winning play to join the cast of a Disney film. Barnes abandoned his role as sexually manipulative schoolboy DAKIN this week (begs29JAN07) after being offered the title role in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, Disney's GBP50 million ($97.5 million) sequel to 2005's THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. The National Theatre has been forced to fly in JAMIE KING, who has previously played the role of Dakin, from Los Angeles as there was no time to rehearse a new actor for the part. A spokesman for the National Theatre said yesterday (02FEB07), "Ben Barnes has decided to leave The History Boys early, before his contract is finished. It is something we are taking very seriously. He has accepted an offer to be in a children's Disney film." The Broadway production of The History Boys won a record six Tony awards, including Best Play, in 2006.