Andrew Adamson needs a vacation. Since he got his big break with "Shrek" way back in 1997, the director of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" has worked on overlapping projects for almost 11 years. Surprisingly, having finished "Caspian" only a few days before, he is upbeat after the positive reactions from the picture's debut screening the previous night.

"One of the 'Narnia' fan guys was there last night, and he was absolutely speechless with enthusiasm, so I consider that a good sign," Adamson says. "I actually read the book again on the plane on the way over here, because I thought I'd better do my homework. After you work on something for two and a half years, you can't remember what was there and what you made up."

He says he was pleasantly surprised to discover most of the book's story line and charm was intact.

Adamson and producer Mark Johnson tapped into a huge fan base with the adaptation of C.S. Lewis' initial novel, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and expectations are high for the second installment. While introducing a major new character, Prince Caspian (played by charismatic newcomer Ben Barnes), the new picture also brings all four of the Pevensie children back to Narnia to help the magical kingdom return to its former glory. It's a much grittier and somewhat darker tale than "Wardrobe," but Adamson insists the PG-rated film isn't violent or graphic.

"I think different people have a different level of acceptance to how exposed they want their kids to be to intense action," Adamson says, "I think the scene in the castle raid where they're riding out you don't see a lot of carnage, but certainly there's people who will be left behind to die and that has an emotional impact. So, you want to achieve that."

Unlike his chipper mood this day, when Adamson spoke at the "Wardrobe" press day three years ago he was visibly exhausted and couldn't fathom thinking about a possible sequel. Obviously, the temptation to jump on board "Caspian" was too strong to turn down, but he's smartly limiting himself to a producer role for the third "Narnia" film, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," to avoid major burnout. He's also planning on giving that film's director, Michael Apted ("Amazing Grace"), some appropriate breathing room by not visiting the set unless specifically called for.

"It said on the Internet I only do two of anything," Adamson jokes. "Certainly the last two films have been quite big and quite challenging and I'm taking a long break actually, about a year off, developing some stuff and looking to do something quite different."

And chances are he won't be able to sneak back to his native New Zealand for too long. Few directors' films have grossed $2.1 billion worldwide, and, when you're a goldmine like that, Hollywood can be just as tempting as the treats of a White Witch. How long Adamson will be able to resist and where he goes next will be well worth keeping an eye on.

"Prince Caspian" opens nationwide May 16.

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