Ben Barnes joins "Prince Caspian"

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Sunday, February 04, 2007
Source: Times Online

According to the Times Online, Ben Barnes has signed a three picture deal with Disney to play Prince Caspian for the Narnia franchise.

To take the role the actor had to leave National Theatre's The History Boys hanging, essentially ditching his role while still under contract.

National Theatre has issued the following statement:

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 and we have had to fly Jamie King back at extremely short notice this week.

KJ's Take:  Very unprofessional, but at the same time, it's hard to really fault the guy.  Hollywood is a nasty place, and it takes quite a bit to make it in that town.  Asking someone to pass up a title role in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises around right now, just to honor a contract for a small time production, well that's hard to swallow.

They will probably sue, then settle, and in the end it will be a great career move by Barnes.  What it won't be is a great show of character or moral integrity.