British filmmaker Michael Apted will direct the third installment in the Narnia series, titled “The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.”

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was the first installment in the series, released in 2005. A second film, titled “The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” is due out in 2008.

Walt Disney Pictures, the studio behind the series, announced that a third film has found its director in the person of Michael Apted. The pic will be released in 2009. Returning cast members include Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes.

“Michael Apted is one of the most versatile and talented film- makers working today,” said Oren Aviv, president of production for Walt Disney Pictures. “We think movie-goers are going to be thrilled with this all-new installment.”

All three films are based on C. S. Lewis’s fantasy novels from the “The Chronicle of Narnia” series. As the set includes seven books, we can probably expect that many film adaptations.

The 66-year-old Apted has previously directed “Coal Miner's Daughter” (1980, Academy Award for Sissy Spacek), “Gorillas in the Mist” (1988, Academy Award nomination for Sigourney Weaver) and “Nell” (1994, Academy Award nomination for Jodie Foster).