The Lion, Lady Bird, and the Streaming Service

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In the near future, discussions about “Turkish delight” will once again be at the forefront among friends, relatives, and colleagues: “Indeed, would you trade your family for a beautiful wicked witch for such a delight?” Following her remarkable success with Barbie, Greta Gerwig is returning to an ongoing project. As revealed as early as July 2023, Gerwig had already started drafting her adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia tales before the commencement of Barbie‘s filming, as she shared with Time in a February 21 feature. The project involves Gerwig directing at least two movies within the series. Gradually, more information about the series is surfacing, hinting at the next installment in the epic Fantasy War. So far, it appears that Gerwig has an advantage, having secured Netflix’s agreement to screen the film on Imax screens. When competing in streaming wars, it certainly helps to have a resurrected lion Jesus on your side.

Which of Narnia’s Chronicles, exactly?

Although Greta Gerwig appears to be developing a film adaptation of Narnia, the rich history and folklore within this world are extensive, making it impossible for just two movies to encompass the entire series. It seems reasonable that one movie would focus on “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” which is the first book in the series and the most famous. However, C.S. Lewis didn’t follow a chronological release order with his books. He published “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” in 1950, followed by three chronologically sequential installments from 1951 to 1953. He then released two standalone prequels: “The Horse and His Boy” in 1954 and “The Magician’s Nephew” in 1955. The series concluded with “The Last Battle” in 1956. The movie adaptations produced by Disney and Fox in the 2000s only managed to create three movies, never reaching an adaptation of the fourth-published book, “The Silver Chair,” despite a 2014 fan contest to name the film’s antagonist. These films ignored the prequels altogether, just like the 1988–1990 BBC series. In November 2023, Scott Stuber, who was then the head of Netflix’s film division, told Variety that while “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is the “premier” book, Gerwig is exploring ways to “tackle the entire narrative arc of the whole series.

So, what do we know?

According to Gerwig’s interview with Time, she was intrigued by the contradiction in the universes that Lewis built, as he combined elements like Greek mythical creatures, Father Christmas, and the British Empire. On the other hand, Ted Sarandos stated to the magazine that Gerwig’s interpretation of the story would be more grandiose and daring than what viewers might expect. The original story by Lewis is closely linked with Christianity, as evidenced by a 2005 headline on Today’s Christian Woman titled “Talking Narnia to Your Neighbors.” In terms of adaptation, Stuber confirmed to Variety that Gerwig’s version will be grounded in faith. Previous works by Gerwig have shown influences from Christianity, such as Lady Bird consuming unblessed communion wafers, Lady Bird being suspended for challenging a pro-life activist, and Barbie executing God. This time around, the responsibility of killing deities falls on Susan Pevensie.

Who’s in the cast?

There’s been no official confirmation, but it seems that various whispers are circulating. Initially, Greta Gerwig’s frequent collaborator Saoirse Ronan was linked to the project, but she stated last autumn that Gerwig hasn’t approached her yet. Later, World of Reel suggested Natalie Portman, Daisy Ridley, Brie Larson, and Selena Gomez as potential stars for Gerwig’s film. Mikey Madison has caught Gerwig’s attention following her Best Actress win for “Anora”, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Furthermore, Deadline hinted that Charli XCX might be considering a switch from pop music to play the White Witch.

Despite rumors suggesting Greta Gerwig is adapting a Narnia book, neither she nor Netflix have officially confirmed which one. In January, a fan site reported that Gerwig was interested in casting two British children aged 10 and 11, aligning with the ages of Digory and Polly from The Magician’s Nephew, a prequel to the Narnia series.

When is this coming out?

Gerwig’s debut film is scheduled to premiere on IMAX screens during Thanksgiving 2026, following successful talks with Netflix. However, it won’t be streamed until Christmas. It remains undecided whether the same release strategy will apply for Gerwig’s second Narnia movie.

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2025-03-06 22:03