Info in Movie News | The long time wait for the release of The Chronicles of Narnia Netflix live-action version is finally at an end. It has been confirmed that the production of The Magician’s Nephew, a movie based on one of C.S. Lewis' classic fantasy, has begun. With her successful Warner Bros. production Barbie, which earned more than $1.4 billion worldwide, Greta Gerwig, the director responsible for the 2023 hit, is now ready to take the audience into the enchanting world of Narnia with her characteristic melting of heart, grandeur, and storytelling.
According to Collider, the first movie, The Magician’s Nephew, is made to be the cornerstone of the entire Universe of Narnia, which is the multi-movie project that Netflix has planned. The story is not taken from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but rather the beginning of Narnia is explored through the eyes of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two youngsters who through their explorations unwittingly cause the White Witch to enter London. Their journey in the book is set in 1900, however, the Netflix version changes the date to the 1950s, thereby giving the production of the movie a new look and also the possibility for subsequent episodes to be closer to the present-day.
Concerted efforts are already being made to capture some of the classic views of London like Bank Station and The Royal Exchange, both of which have morphed into a vibrant post-war cityscape. The few who have been crowding the stage are donning period dresses and hats, and the stage is beautifully decorated with old store fronts and flower stalls, all of which are transports to 1950s Britain, this is the essence of the set. Most of the On-location filming is shot at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, a place that is referred to as home to productions such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and 1917.
The cast list has yet to be officially confirmed, but multiple credible reports suggest Emma Mackey will play the White Witch, Daniel Craig will take on the role of the eccentric Uncle Andrew, and Carey Mulligan is in talks to portray Mabel Kirke, Digory’s mother. Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep is reportedly in negotiations to voice Aslan. On-set photos have also revealed two young, unidentified actors believed to be playing Digory and Polly, both newcomers chosen to lead this first chapter.
People admit by far that The Magician's Nephew will be one of the most daring and clever choices as the nexus. Without delay, by opening the gates for Narnia's mythology, Netflix can now lay out a thorough story arc across its upcoming movies. It is interesting to note that the decision to change the setting to the 1950s might have a bandwagon effect on the rest of the adaptations. If The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be changed as well, then its original World War II setting could be relocated in a different time, maybe even in the early 2000s.
The buzz surrounding the forthcoming changes is not just limited to the fanbase. Ben Barnes who was Prince Caspian in the Disney Narnia trilogy shared his opinion about the reboot and said that he was very much into it. In one of his recent interviews, he mentioned that Narnia will always be an adaptable piece of art if it is put forward in a new and relevant way. He also referred to the allegorical perfection in C.S. Lewis’ works and said they are sources of learning about hope, kindness, and faith.
Netflix is taking an unusual release approach for this project, The Magician’s Nephew will premiere in IMAX theaters worldwide for a two-week exclusive run in November 2026, before arriving on Netflix just in time for Christmas that year. This release approach combines the grand, immersive feel of a big-screen IMAX debut with the broad reach of Netflix’s streaming platform, aiming to capture both long-time devotees of the series and newcomers alike.
Netflix got the adaptation rights for the Narnia series in 2018. Right from the start, they made it clear that this is going to be one of their major franchises rather than just another fantasy title in their collection. Greta Gerwig, both the screenwriter and the director, gets to revamp the universe while keeping the emotional touch of C.S. Lewis’ original work intact. If everything goes well, The Magician’s Nephew could be the beginning of a rebooted series of movies that would bring back the fans’ lost feeling of awe and wonder after Disney’s last release, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, back in 2010.
At this stage, the “wardrobe door” is only starting to open. With production moving ahead in London, across the South East of England, and within Shepperton Studios, excitement is steadily growing for the day audiences will once again journey into Narnia, led by an entirely new generation of characters.
source: Collider, Screendaily