It’s been over a decade. Honestly, when The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader hit theaters back in 2010, the fantasy landscape was weird. Harry Potter was wrapping up, Twilight was everywhere, and Narnia was jumping ship from Disney to 20th Century Fox. The third film changed the vibe. It was sunnier, saltier, and felt like a massive departure from the snowy woods of the first film. But the heart of it—the cast of Narnia Dawn Treader—is what actually kept that ship afloat.
Ben Barnes was back as Caspian. Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes returned as the younger Pevensies. Then you had Will Poulter, who basically stole the entire movie as the world's most annoying cousin, Eustace Scrubb. Looking back, that casting room was doing something right. Most of these kids didn't just fade into "where are they now" listicles; they became some of the most respected actors in the industry, or in one case, a literal government advisor.
The Evolution of Ben Barnes as King Caspian
Ben Barnes had a tough job. In Prince Caspian, he had that thick, somewhat controversial Mediterranean-ish accent and a bit of a "heartthrob of the month" vibe. By the time we get to Dawn Treader, Caspian is a king. He’s bearded. He’s more authoritative. Barnes leaned into the internal conflict of a man living in the shadow of a father he never really knew.
It’s funny to see where he went after this. He didn't stay the "fantasy prince" forever. If you’ve watched Westworld, you saw him as Logan Delos—basically the polar opposite of Caspian. He was cruel, hedonistic, and messy. Then he joined the Marvel world as Billy Russo (Jigsaw) in The Punisher. He proved he could play a villain who was as broken as he was handsome. More recently, he’s been the Darkling in Shadow and Bone. He’s carved out this niche of playing "complicated men with capes," and it suits him. He’s also a musician. He released an EP called Songs For You a couple of years ago. He’s one of the few who successfully bridged the gap from teen franchise star to legitimate, multi-hyphenate adult actor.
Georgie Henley and the End of Lucy Pevensie
Lucy was always the soul of Narnia. Georgie Henley was only seven or eight when she was cast in the first film. By the time Dawn Treader rolled around, she was a teenager dealing with Lucy’s own insecurities—specifically the subplot where Lucy wants to be as beautiful as her sister, Susan.
Georgie didn't go the blockbuster route after the trilogy ended. She went to Cambridge. She studied English Literature. She did some smaller, indie films like The Sisterhood of Night and Perfect Sisters. But her biggest post-Narnia splash was likely The Spanish Princess on Starz, where she played Margaret Tudor. She’s also a poet and a director. There’s a certain groundedness to her. She’s often spoken about how "fame" wasn't the goal; the craft was. It’s rare to see a child star come out the other side of a massive franchise with that much perspective.
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The Eustace Scrubb Factor: Will Poulter’s Big Break
If we’re being real, Will Poulter is the MVP of the cast of Narnia Dawn Treader. Playing Eustace Clarence Scrubb (who almost deserved his name) required a very specific type of talent. You had to be punchable but eventually redeemable. Poulter’s face—those incredibly expressive eyebrows—was born for the role.
His career trajectory has been insane.
- We're the Millers (The "waterfall" scene, anyone?)
- The Revenant (Acting alongside Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Midsommar (The doomed vape-bro)
- Dopesick (Which earned him an Emmy nomination)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (As the gold-skinned Adam Warlock)
Poulter is a heavyweight now. He’s used his platform to speak out against cyberbullying and has become a fashion icon in a weird, "accidental heartthrob" kind of way. Watching him transform from a dragon-boy in Narnia to a cosmic powerhouse in the MCU is one of the more satisfying arcs in Hollywood.
Skandar Keynes: From Narnia to Whitehall
This is the one that usually shocks people. Skandar Keynes played Edmund Pevensie, the boy who traded his family for Turkish Delight and then spent two movies trying to earn his soul back. In Dawn Treader, Edmund is the veteran. He’s the one holding the sword.
And then... he just stopped.
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Skandar didn't want to be an actor. He went to Cambridge (like Georgie) and studied Arabic and Middle Eastern History. He basically vanished from the red carpet. Today, he’s a political advisor. He’s worked in the UK Parliament. It’s the ultimate Edmund move—going from a fictional king to someone actually involved in the levers of government. He’s remarkably private, which is why you won’t find him on Instagram posting "throwback Thursday" photos from the set. He’s moved on to a completely different world.
The Supporting Players and Voice Legends
You can’t talk about the Dawn Treader cast without mentioning the voice of Reepicheep. Originally, Eddie Izzard voiced the mouse in Prince Caspian, but for Dawn Treader, Simon Pegg took over. Pegg brought a different kind of warmth to the valiant rodent. It was a subtle shift, but it worked for the more emotional beats of Reepicheep’s journey toward Aslan's Country.
Then there’s Liam Neeson. The voice of Aslan. Neeson’s gravelly, authoritative tone is so synonymous with the Great Lion that it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it. Even though he’s never on screen, his presence looms over the whole film.
Why the Cast Worked
The chemistry was the secret sauce. The Pevensies actually felt like siblings. When Lucy and Edmund have to say goodbye to Narnia at the end of the film—knowing they aren't coming back—the tears felt real. That wasn't just acting; it was the end of a multi-year journey for those actors. They grew up on those sets.
The Missing Pieces: Where Were William and Anna?
William Moseley (Peter) and Anna Popplewell (Susan) only had cameos in this one. Peter and Susan had already been told they were "too old" for Narnia in the previous film.
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William Moseley went on to star in The Royals as Prince Liam, which was basically "What if the Pevensies were in a trashy soap opera?" He’s stayed busy in the indie action world. Anna Popplewell went to Oxford and then landed a lead role in Reign as Lady Lola. She’s also popped up in the Conjuring universe recently in The Nun II. Even the "older" siblings stayed remarkably consistent in their careers.
Navigating the Legacy of Dawn Treader
There’s a lot of talk about the Netflix Narnia reboot with Greta Gerwig. People ask if the old cast will return. Honestly? Probably not. That chapter is closed. The cast of Narnia Dawn Treader represents a very specific era of filmmaking—the late 2000s transition into high-fidelity CGI and the attempt to make "prestige" fantasy for families.
The film itself received mixed reviews, but the casting was never the problem. If anything, the actors outshone the script. They took the heavy allegories of C.S. Lewis and made them feel like actual human experiences.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to revisit the work of this cast, don't just rewatch Narnia. Look at their range.
- Watch Will Poulter in Dopesick. It is a masterclass in subtlety and a far cry from Eustace Scrubb.
- Check out Ben Barnes in Cabinet of Curiosities (The "Pickman's Model" episode). It shows his growth in the horror genre.
- Read Georgie Henley’s poetry. She has a book called Amphibian that gives a lot of insight into her transition from child star to adult artist.
- Follow the Netflix Narnia news. While the 2010 cast likely won't be in it, the bar they set for Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian is what Gerwig will be measured against.
The 2010 voyage was the last time we saw the Pevensies on screen. Whether they were fighting sea serpents or dealing with "undragoning," the actors made the magic feel earned. It’s rare to see a franchise cast stay this dignified and successful without the typical Hollywood scandals. They just did the work, went to school, and became great actors. That's the real Narnian ending.