Perry Moore, executive producer of the wildly successful "The Chronicles of Narnia" trilogy and author of the young adult novel "Hero," died Thursday morning in his NYC home from an apparent overdose of OxyContin, according to The New York Times. He was 39.
Although an exact cause of death has not been determined, The Times reports that police have ruled out foul play.
Moore is reported to have been instrumental in securing the rights to film C.S. Lewis's epic series for small production house Walden Media, including negotiating their transition from Disney Studios to Fox after the second film. The three flicks completed so far, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," "Prince Caspian," and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" have combined to make over $1.5 billion worldwide.
Moore, who once promised fans he would endeavor to produce all seven of the books in the "Narnia" series, may have been well on his way to securing financing on a fourth entry, "The Magician's Nephew," according to a report on WTKR.
A prequel to the events of the first film, "The Magician's Nephew" is Lewis's shot at the Biblical story of Genesis as allegory, including parallels to the forbidden fruit and Satan. If accurate, it is unclear why Moore would choose to film this novel rather than the chronological sequel, "The Silver Chair," which follows the continuing Narnian adventures of Eustace Scrubb, the petulant child turned eventual hero portrayed by Will Poulter in "Dawn Treader."
Actress Tilda Swinton, who appeared as the titular White Witch in all three films, recently discussed the possibility of filming "The Magician's Nephew," where her character once again appears, over "Silver Chair," where she doesn't.
"I really do hope they do another 'Narnia'," the Oscar winner told Now Magazine. "It should be 'The Magician's Nephew' as that's my favorite."
Calls to Walden Media were not returned at press time.
Openly homosexual, Moore was passionate about the portrayal of gay characters in comics. Wanting to create a positive, gay super, Moore wrote "Hero," the story of Thom Creed, a high school basketball star who must simultaneously deal with both his emerging powers and sexuality.
"I have always been enthralled with comic books and superheroes, and I've always believed there should be a gay superhero. Not as a joke, not as a supporting character, not as a victim, not as a token, but as a real front-and-center hero," Moore wrote on his website about the impetus for "Hero." "Like most young people, I grew up feeling alienated and different--for very specific reasons in my case--in a place that didn't value differences. I also have this borderline-crazy belief in the power of literature to change the universe. So I'd always wanted to tell this story."
One of the last things Moore ever linked to on his personal website was a 2008 story on MTV about "Hero" being turned into an hour long series. According to WTKR, Moore was still working on bringing "Hero" to TV at the time of his death.
With partner Hunter Hill, Moore co-wrote and co-directed the drama "Lake City" in 2008.
"We're so sad," his father, Bill Moore, told The Hollywood Reporter. "He's been able to reach out and touch a lot of people."
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Seltzer produced Heston in films including Soylent Green Press agent and film-maker Walter Seltzer, who produced Charlton Heston movies Soylent Green and The Omega Man, has died in Los Angeles aged 96.
Moore also co-directed 2008 film Lake City, starring Sissy Spacek Perry Moore, a co-producer of The Chronicles of Narnia film franchise and the author of a novel about a gay superhero, has died aged 39.