‘Narnia,’ 007 get new directors

Director Michael Apted is heading to Narnia, while filmmaker Marc Forster is off on the next Bond adventure.

Apted and Forster were both named Tuesday to take over two of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.

Disney Pictures and Walden Media have tapped Apted, who directed the 1999 Bond film “The World Is Not Enough,” to direct “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the third installment in the “Narnia” series, according to Variety. “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” the second in the series based upon the Christian-themed books by C.S. Lewis, will be released next year. “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is slated for release in May 2009.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” grossed $738 million worldwide.

Forster will direct the next James Bond movie, starring Daniel Craig, due out Nov. 7, 2008. (Craig’s first turn as the superspy in last year’s “Casino Royale” became the top-grossing Bond movie, with nearly $600 million worldwide.) The not-yet-titled 22nd Bond movie begins shooting in London this December for Sony and MGM.