Greta Gerwig to launch Netflix's Narnia series with The Magician's Nephew

Movieweb reports that Netflix has hired Greta Gerwig to reboot The Chronicles of Narnia and that her first film will adapt The Magician's Nephew rather than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The choice reflects the book's place as the story's chronological beginning: The Magician's Nephew follows a young Digory Kirke and his friend Polly as they travel to the ruined world of Charn, meet the woman Jadis, witness Aslan create Narnia, and provide an origin for the wardrobe portal. Earlier Narnia films adapted The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010), leaving several books unadapted.

Netflix has signalled an intention to adapt all seven books and may proceed in chronological order, though the outlet notes there is no guarantee the studio will cover every book and that much could depend on audience response. The Magician's Nephew is scheduled for a limited IMAX run on Thanksgiving Day 2026 and to start streaming on Netflix on Christmas Day; the cast includes David McKenna as Digory Kirke, Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew and Emma Mackey as Jadis. Gerwig has said she approaches Narnia with reverence and some intimidation, per a 2024 interview on BBC Radio 4's Today program, cited by Deadline.

Key Topics

Culture, Greta Gerwig, Netflix, C.s. Lewis, Digory Kirke