ABC to Air THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, 12/30

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, Walt Disney Pictures' magical tale of four children traveling through a wardrobe to the mystical land of Narnia, will air as the "ABC Friday Movie of the Week," DECEMBER 30 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. The feature, winner of an Academy Award and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award (BAFTA) in 2006, will be broadcast in HDTV format with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP. (Rebroadcast. OAD 5/3/08)

Based on the first novel in the series, the film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" follows the four Pevensie children who are taken into the country home of an old professor during World War II. While playing hide and seek one afternoon, they stumble across an old wardrobe that transports them to the world of Narnia. This enchanted place where animals speak is ruled by the evil White Witch, who has made it snow for 100 years. The children must unite with the true ruler of Narnia, a lion named Aslan, and together defeat the evil witch and fulfill their destinies as kings and queens of Narnia.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" stars William Moseley as Peter Pevensie, Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie, Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie, Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie, Jim Broadbent as Professor Digory Kirke, James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus, Tilda Swinton as Queen Jadis the White Witch, Ray Winstone as the voice of Mr. Beaver, Patrick Lake as Oreius, Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik, Shane Ragi as General Otmin, Rupert Everett as the voice of The Fox, Michael Madsen as the voice of Maugrim, and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was directed by Andrew Adamson ("Shrek," "Shrek 2," "Shrek The Third"). Screenplay is by Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamnson, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis. The film is a production of Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media and Lamp-Post Productions. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED) (Broadcast in stereo where available)

This film carries a TV-PG,V parental guideline.