If Netflix wants to create a successful fantasy series like The Chronicles of Narnia, they should look no further than the HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. This three-season show is a prime example of how to faithfully and effectively bring a popular fantasy book series to life on screen.
The show stays true to the original book while also enhancing the story with impressive visuals. Importantly, it avoids unnecessary celebrity casting, choosing the best actor for each role instead. It’s clear everyone working on the series genuinely appreciated Pullman’s books, and that passion is essential for creating a successful fantasy TV adaptation.
With Greta Gerwig set to direct the new Narnia films, casting is the next big question. She and Netflix should learn from the success of His Dark Materials and avoid a star-heavy cast like the one she used for Barbie. That approach wouldn’t be right for Narnia.
His Dark Materials Should Be The Blueprint For Netflix’s Narnia Movies
While choosing the right actors is important, Greta Gerwig needs to stay fairly close to the original story in C.S. Lewis’s famous fantasy series. A good example of how to do this is HBO’s His Dark Materials, which successfully adapted Philip Pullman’s novels by ending with the same dramatic finale.
While it was sad to see the story end for Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, their conclusion felt necessary. This was a welcome contrast to the final season of Game of Thrones, which disappointed many by straying from George R.R. Martin’s books and failing its characters.
Other movie adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia have fallen short by not staying true to the original books. Those working on Netflix’s new series, including Greta Gerwig, should learn from these past errors. Gerwig can look to the success of her well-received, faithful adaptation of Little Women as a guide.
HBO’s His Dark Materials Was Better Than The Blockbuster Film
The TV series His Dark Materials is more subtle than the 2007 film The Golden Compass, which was also based on Philip Pullman’s novel. However, by focusing on developing its characters and accurately portraying the fantastical world of the story, the TV series is a clear improvement over the movie.
HBO’s His Dark Materials stands out for its strong characters and captivating stories, and it boasts impressive visual effects – all achieved with a much smaller budget than the $180 million spent on the film The Golden Compass. Because of these strengths, it’s a prime example of a fantasy series that surpasses its movie counterpart.
How Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Will Be Different From The Previous Adaptation
Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of Narnia will likely differ from the His Dark Materials series because she’s planning to make a separate movie for each book, instead of a single TV season. However, Gerwig and the production team understand the importance of staying true to the story’s main plot and themes as written by C.S. Lewis.
The upcoming Netflix series will tell the story of Narnia in the order the events happen, starting with The Magician’s Nephew. This is different from the previous movies, which began with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. However, Greta Gerwig’s planned Narnia films will significantly alter the original timeline of the books.
| C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles Of Narnia Book Series | Publication Year | Disney’s Chronicles Of Narnia Movie Series | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Magician’s Nephew | 1955 | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 2005 |
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 1950 | Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia | 2008 |
| Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia | 1951 | The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 2010 |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 1952 | – | – |
| The Silver Chair | 1953 | – | – |
| The Horse and His Boy | 1954 | – | – |
| The Last Battle | 1956 | – | – |
Netflix’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew won’t be set in the early 1900s, like the book. Instead, it will take place in the 1950s. This shift in time period will significantly impact the realistic, non-magical elements of Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia series.
HBO’s His Dark Materials also changed details from the original books, updating the story’s setting to 2019 instead of the late 1990s. So, Netflix’s Narnia hasn’t broken any fantasy genre rules so far.
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2025-12-15 23:32