While promoting the The Devil Wears Prada 2 last week on The Late Show, Streep was asked by host Stephen Colbert about her brief voice-cameo in Project Hail Mary, which is now in theaters:

“Amy Pascal is a friend, she produced lots of wonderful movies including Little Women that I was in — I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s the producer of [Project Hail Mary] and she asked me if I’d do it, we were working on another film in London, and I said “sure!”.

Meryl Streep

Based on the post-production timeline for Project Hail Mary, it is likely that the other film being referred to here is Greta Gerwig’s Narnia (for which Amy Pascal was also the producer) and would seem to imply that Meryl Streep was physically present in London for Narnia’s filming.

Later in the interview, Streep briefly mentions Greta Gerwig.

These new comments follow a recent interview with Emma Mackey (Jadis), who seemed to imply that she and Streep actually got to work together as actors on the film set. NarniaWeb has also previously received unconfirmed reports indicating Streep was present for some of the studio based filming in England.

While it is not yet possible to say what implications this may have for Aslan’s role in the film, it is worth noting that on many film productions, voice actors for CGI characters will often just show up during post-production and record their lines at a sound recording studio, whilst in other cases, the voice actors are used to perform on-set motion capture for their characters.

It could simply be the case however that Streep was required to deliver her lines on set so that the other actors could fully engage with her performance.

In a 2010 interview with NarniaWeb, Aslan actor Liam Neeson expressed his disappointment at not having been involved with any of the on-set filming for Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

“Well, I’d be honest with you. It was a little frustrating because I wasn’t part of the film process. I wasn’t on location, I wasn’t with the kids, I wasn’t with the film crew. They brought me in at the end to put in an anonymous sound booth, either in Toronto or Vancouver or here in London. That was a little frustrating.”

Liam Neeson

Exactly what level of involvement Meryl Streep had on the Narnia film set remains a mystery for now, however her presence in the film itself looks to be all-but-confirmed, with Aslan being the only role she has been connected with so far.

Thanks to NarniaWebber Alex Anar for the heads up on this story!

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Narnia’s return to the big screen comes in less than 8 months, but remains largely shrouded in mystery. Writer/Director Greta Gerwig recently broke her 2-year silence by acknowledging that her upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew remains “under wraps.”

Only small scraps of information has leaked the past year, but much of it has left fans puzzled. Will the first trailer (whenever it comes) offer some clarity about what to expect? Listen to our discussion and then post a comment below!

Podcasters: Glumpuddle, Gymfan, Forrest

The post Next Narnia Movie Remains “Under Wraps” as Fans Hope for Clarity from Trailer | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

NarniaWeb has received some information indicating that Kobna Holdbrook-Smith has been cast in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia movie.

The Ghanaian-born British actor has worked across film, television, stage, and various voice roles. Notable credits include Paddington 2, Wonka, Mary Poppins Returns, Doctor Strange, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the upcoming The Sheep Detective, as well as HBO’s His Dark Materials series.

He also won 2019’s Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Ike Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. 

Details of his character in The Magician’s Nephew are being kept under wraps, although NarniaWeb did first hear of his involvement before filming wrapped in January. Representatives for Holdbrook-Smith did not respond to requests for comment, and Netflix declined to comment.

So, for now, this casting remains unconfirmed.

Previously confirmed cast members for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew include David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Denise Gough, Susan Wokoma, Samantha Spiro, and Meryl Streep.

The post Report: ‘Paddington 2’ Actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Cast in Netflix’s Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

HBO has just announced, alongside the release of its first teaser trailer, that its upcoming Harry Potter television series will now premiere on December 25, 2026 — earlier than previously expected, as the series had originally been slated for a 2027 debut.

That date is especially notable as Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is also expected to arrive on Netflix the same day, meaning the film will face direct competition for viewers upon its streaming release.

No word yet on whether HBO will drop Harry Potter Season 1 all at once or episode by episode.

Despite the overlap, Narnia is still positioned to carve out its own moment in the spotlight ahead of time. The film is set for a two-week IMAX run across more than 1,000 screens worldwide beginning November 26, giving it an opportunity to build momentum and audience awareness before debuting on Netflix.

Are you worried about how Narnia will perform against HBO’s Harry Potter? Could both benefit from the shared release date?

The post Netflix’s ‘Narnia’ Debut to Share Release Date with HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Although C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew likely contains more real-world scenes that any other Narnia book, it remains a fairly focused story overall, with the majority of the narrative focused around just its two main child protagonists. Evidence however suggests that the upcoming Netflix adaptation will have a slightly more expansive scope, not just in terms of its locations, but also in terms of the number of child actor roles.

In February, the Sally King Agency, who provided numerous extras, body-doubles, and stand-ins for the film, reported that over 150 children had been involved with the production. Whilst that figure might seem like a lot, it is worth remembering that Digory and Polly will have had at least three or more body doubles each, and so the number of children required for any one role will quickly add up.

However, as well as the glimpses we have already seen of additional child actors present for the on-location filming, we have also seen several major casting calls during production which have indicated that a large number of children were required for different background roles in various scenes.

In August, we learned that at least 40 boys were required for a scene shot at the Victoria Baths swimming pool in Manchester, whilst another casting call from the same drama school revealed that the production was looking for “Girls with shoulder-length hair“ and “Boys with slightly longer “Teddy-style” hair“ for the 1950s themed film shoots in London, Manchester and Bradford.

As well as these bulk casting calls for background roles, NarniaWeb has also learned of dozens of individual child actors who have been linked to the production at various periods of time, including Cameron Bell, who was reported to have landed a role in Greta Gerwig’s film back in October, and Dylan Raja who reportedly has a non-speaking role in the scene shot at Manchester’s Victoria Baths.

We also know from a report back in October that Polly will have at least 3 sisters (if not more), which perhaps also leaves the door open for her to have some brothers as well.

Much of this information has previously been shared exclusively with our Patreon subscribers on our Discord server. Sign up to Patreon to get involved!

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The ‘Next on Netflix’ event in Hollywood was hosted by Netflix film chairman Dan Lin and chief content officer Bela Bajaria, and introduced Netflix’s upcoming film and TV slate for the year ahead.

According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, Narnia director Greta Gerwig also appeared via video message to talk about her film:

“It’s all very under wraps right now, but it’s something that I’m just so thrilled about because it was the book of my childhood. It was the book series that I loved, and I lived through, and I spent so much time imagining myself inside of Narnia … It’s been a joy and an honor to be the person who gets to imagine this universe.”

Greta Gerwig

Chief content officer Bela Bajaria also shared that, “I don’t think there is a bigger fan of that book series than Greta.”

Gerwig’s reverential praise for the book series echoes similar comments she made earlier in the production process, but perhaps stands in stark contrast to those made by other members of the senior producing team over the past year.

During Netflix’s presentation, Head of Film Dan Lin apparently described the film as a “Rock and roll” take, according to reporting from the event by Variety’s senior entertainment writer Matthew Donnelly. This echoes producer Amy Pascal’s earlier comment about Greta Gerwig’s adaptation being “all about rock and roll.”

Curious what else Greta Gerwig has said about Narnia? Here’s everything she’s said about her Netflix films so far!

The post Greta Gerwig Breaks Near Two-Year Silence on Adapting ‘Narnia’ During Netflix Press Event appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Nearly a year has passed since reports first indicated that Meryl Streep was in talks to portray Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis. Netflix declined to comment at the time, and there have been no updates since on whether those discussions progressed.

A new interview appears to offer the first confirmation of Streep’s Narnia involvement.

Emma Mackey, who is set to play Jadis, told Italian outlet D – La Repubblica that she will be acting alongside Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, and Meryl Streep in the film. Here’s the relevant portion of the interview published on March 18:

Roberto Croci: What can you tell us about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia?

Emma Mackey: Not much. It’s just exciting. The subject is very familiar all over the world, and it was also a big part of my childhood. Plus… (laughs) I’ll be acting with Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, and Carey Mulligan.

Translated from Italian

While this does not confirm that Meryl Streep will portray Aslan, it remains the most likely role based on the earlier reports, as no other part has been publicly associated with her.

Streep previously collaborated with Greta Gerwig on her 2019 adaptation of Little Women. The 76-year-old holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations in history with 21.

 Related: 

• NarniaWeb Investigates: Will Aslan be a Lioness?
• Podcast: Meryl Streep Might Play Aslan… How Concerned Should We Be?

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The Magician’s Nephew has long been confirmed as the source material for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptation. The title of the film, however, remains uncertain.

What should the title of the film be? Should they drop “The Chronicles of”? Or what about keeping it simply The Magician’s Nephew? Listen to our discussion and then post a comment below.

The post The Title of the Next Narnia Movie? | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Last month, we reported that animal trainers were present on the set of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, confirming that live animals were being used. NarniaWeb has also learned that one of those animals was, in fact, a guinea pig.

We can also confirm that the guinea pig was used specifically on the Wood Between the Worlds set, which was likely filmed at Shepperton Studios.

In the book, guinea pigs are cruelly used by Uncle Andrew to test his newly created magic rings. Digory and Polly later encounter one of the animals in the Wood Between the Worlds, with a ring tied to it. Seeing the guinea pig helps break the trance-like forgetfulness induced by the Wood, reminding them of London and why they entered the pools in the first place.

While much from the set remains under wraps, Gerwig previously referenced the Wood Between the Worlds in a 2023 interview when describing her stage in the preparation process for Narnia:

There’s a thing in one of his books called the Wood between the Worlds. That’s where I am. I’m in the Wood between the Worlds. It’s a wood that goes on forever, you can’t see the sky, it’s so dense, you can’t see the end of it. And there are all these pools and at the bottom of each pool is a universe. […] The problem with the the Wood between the Worlds is that you can often forget what you’re doing there (laughs). This is actually a feature of it. You kinda get a little bit of amnesia. So you have to remember, ‘where am I going? Which world am I trying to get to now?“

Netflix’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled to open in IMAX on November 26, 2026.

Related:

• Dead Tree Given New Life on Narnia Film Set
• Early Artwork for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Spotted?

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Irish actress Denise Gough was first confirmed to have a role in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew back in September 2025, however she has remained conspicuously tight-lipped about the nature of that role ever since.

NarniaWeb has received information which indicates that Denise Gough might be playing Aunt Letty in the film. Netflix declined to comment on our findings so this information should be taken with a grain of salt.

Denise Gough teased at the time of her casting that her role involved being “mean […] to children“, and whilst Letty is not necessarily depicted as being mean in the book, she is described as being “a tough old lady” with a “firm, quiet voice” who generally exhibits a stern, no-nonsense approach to running a hectic household.

Gough, who recently turned 46, is also well placed to play the middle sibling of both Daniel Craig (58) as Uncle Andrew, and Carey Mulligan (40) as Mabel Kirke, Digory’s mother.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Vogue Magazine, Denise echoed similar sentiments to recent comments made her fellow co-star Carey Mulligan, in her praise for director Greta Gerwig:

“Greta really understands actors… It’s a rare thing to spend time with women your own age in this industry, and it’s a gift, as you age, to keep having new experiences with people who inspire you.”

Denise Gough

She also recounted an amusing incident in which the child stars of Narnia came to visit her at a recent performance of her stage play ‘High Noon’ in London, and presented her with a toilet roll with her face on it.

“When I work with kids, I want them to stay kids, so we don’t talk about work. We play pranks,”

Denise Gough, alongside all of her other co-stars, can next be seen in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew which premieres in IMAX Cinemas on November 26th 2026 and on Netflix on Christmas Day 2026.

The post Rumor: Denise Gough ‘Narnia’ Role Revealed? appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

In a recent interview for French fashion Magazine Elle, the BAFTA-winning British actress Carey Mulligan spoke about her experience working with Director Greta Gerwig on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

“Oh my goodness, I loved it. I want to work with Greta forever. Seeing her in her element directing was just amazing – she’s just unbelievable. I’ve not seen a single moment where she has looked stressed or unhappy or any sort of normal emotion that you might feel directing an absolutely enormous film like this. She’s a complete joy – and that was infectious to the crew. Just the happiest crew, best cast. I can’t wait to see what she’s put together.”

Mulligan was one of the first confirmed cast members and has remained consistent in her praise for Gerwig and the production as a whole. 

In August of 2025 she brought up her longstanding desire to work with Gerwig, stating that it felt like a “kind of a pinch-me moment. So yeah, I’m just feeling incredibly lucky.”

The film’s shoot wrapped on January 30st and is set for a Thanksgiving IMAX release, followed by a Netflix premiere on Christmas Day. 

The post Carey Mulligan: “I Want to Work With Greta Forever” After Filming Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

In this episode, the podcasters recap the last several weeks of Narnia movie news as Greta Gerwig wraps filming.

What will the title of the movie be? Who will Susan Wokoma play? How big of a role will/should Samantha Spiro‘s Beaver character have? Should fans be concerned about Editor Andrew Weisblum’s comments? And what is up with the production acquiring a dead tree?

Listen to the discussion and post a comment below!

The post Two Titles, Two Beavers, and a Dead Tree | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

As new cast and crew details for The Magician’s Nephew continue to roll in following the film’s official wrap on principal photography at the end of January, more evidence is building that Greta Gerwig’s visualization of Narnia might lean heavily on in-camera practical effects, rather than just on computer-generated imagery.

NarniaWeb first reported back in October that Academy Award-winning creature effects artist Neal Scanlan had been appointed to oversee the film’s creature effects. We’ve since learned that Scanlan was joined by more than a dozen additional crew members on the Creature FX team, many of whom brought prior screen credits as puppeteers and creature performers.

Many of the artists have previously helped bring monsters, aliens, dinosaurs, and other creatures to the screen in major franchises such as the Jurassic World trilogy and the recent Star Wars sequels and reboots.

In addition to practical creature effects, we’re told that animal handlers were present on set, and real-life animals were indeed used during production.

Furthermore, numerous performers attached to the production have prior experience in dance, expressive movement, and performance capture roles, suggesting that a wide variety of techniques are being employed to bring the world of Narnia and its animal inhabitants to life.

It is perhaps not surprising that Narnia’s production would seek to capture as much as possible in-camera, given that the film is being shot on film using the 35mm VistaVision format, and select scenes are also being shot using the larger 70mm IMAX format.

At the same time, computer effects will undoubtedly still play a big part in the overall final look of Greta Gerwig’s finished Narnia film, with VFX studios such as Framestore, Weta FX, and Eyeline contributing visual effects work. The full balance between practical and digital techniques will only become clear once the finished film reaches audiences.

The Magician’s Nephew will be released on November 26th, exclusively in IMAX cinemas, with the film dropping onto Netflix on Christmas Day 2026.

The post Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Employed Puppeteers, Creature Performers, and Real Animals appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Samantha Spiro has joined the cast of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia movie, providing the voice of a Beaver. The news was first reported by What’s On Netflix after the role details appeared on Spiro’s online résumé.

The multi Olivier Award winning stage actress previously starred opposite Emma Mackey in Netflix’s Sex Education, and has also had minor roles in numerous popular TV shows such as Game of Thrones and Doctor Who.

Spiro joins a slowly expanding cast list for the film, which also includes Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan and Denise Gough, but is notable for being the first confirmed voice role for any of the talking animal characters from the story so far.

In a perhaps fortuitous coincidence, the Beavers are noted in the book as the being the very first animals listed who are gifted the ability of speech by Aslan:

“And now, for the first time, the Lion was quite silent. He was going to and fro among the animals. And every now and then he would go up to two of them (always two at a time) and touch their noses with his. He would touch two beavers among all the beavers, two leopards among all the leopards, one stag and one deer among all the deer, and leave the rest. Some sorts of animal he passed over altogether. But the pairs which he had touched instantly left their own kinds and followed him.”

The Magician’s Nephew, Chapter 9

Other talking animals mentioned within the book include Badgers, Bears, Boars, Bulldogs, Donkeys, Elephants, Elks, Jackdaws, Moles, Owls, Panthers, Rabbits, Ravens and Warthogs, amongst many more.

Audio samples of Samantha Spiro’s voice can be found on her voice acting agency’s website here.

The post Samantha Spiro Joins Narnia Cast in First Confirmed Voice Role appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Toy manufacturers are quietly previewing licensed merchandise tied to Netflix’s upcoming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew at this week’s North American International Toy Fair in New York — and the first details about the companies involved are beginning to surface.

The New York Toy Fair takes place every February and sees professionals from across the toy industry come together to preview their upcoming releases and discuss licensing arrangements.

One of those companies is Monogram International, which listed Narnia among its 2026 licensed properties in a press release issued last week. The company is known for producing smaller collectible items, ranging from 3D foam bag clips and keychains to novelty banks and enamel pins.

In addition, collectible manufacturer Funko, best known for the popular Pop! Vinyls line, confirmed it will also be releasing Narnia products later this year.

Speaking during an appearance on the Strictly Business podcast, Funko CEO Josh Simon called 2026 one of their strongest entertainment slates in years, and highlighted a lineup that includes The Mandalorian & Grogu, Toy Story 5, Moana, Supergirl and Avengers: Doomsday, among others, before adding:

“I have to also give a shout out to — I’m very excited for the Narnia movie that Greta Gerwig is directing that also comes out at the end of the year.”

Josh Simon

Simon also noted, however, that many of the year’s products are being showcased privately at New York’s Toy Fair, as studios work hard to prevent spoilers from leaking out through early merchandise reveals.

Therefore, while we are unlikely to see any reveals of new Narnia products just yet (such as what we got at previous NY Toy Fair events in 2005 and 2008), this latest news is likely only the beginning of further marketing partnerships for Narnia as we near the film’s November release.

Related:

• Narnia Themed Attractions Planned for Netflix House Locations
• Netflix Seeking to Hire Narnia Marketing Consultant

Are there any specific Narnia toys, memorabilia, or collectibles inspired by The Magician’s Nephew that you’d especially like to see produced?

The post ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ to Receive Funko Pop and Licensed Merchandise appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew may just have found its most unlikely of big-screen stars yet… a dead tree.

According to a report by Buckinghamshire-based local newspaper The Bucks Herald, the long-deceased maple tree was acquired by the Narnia production team last September from Startop Farm near Marsworth on the border of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire in England.

Known locally for its twisted, lightning-scarred silhouette, the tree was carefully dismantled by contractors, with some branches cut and numbered so it could be reconstructed exactly on set.

The Bucks Herald

The dead maple tree was apparently spotted by a member of the production team at the Marsworth Steam Rally back in June, before being taken away for use on the Narnia film set a few months later.

According to farm owner Josie Kempster the tree will star as “one of two apple trees in the wood”, although the Bucks Herald’s paraphrasing and editorializing make it unclear as to whether they are referring to The Wood Between The Worlds or to the Tree of Protection and its associated real-world twin that is planted by Digory at the end of the book.

The image above shows the tree being carefully dismantled and raised onto a flatbed truck by staff from Greens Team Ltd; a company previously linked to The Magician’s Nephew that specializes in plant-based set dressings for film and TV productions.

Greens Team Ltd recently posted a video of a very similar looking dead tree on their Instagram account which shows how they transform the branches of dead trees to create realistic looking “live” trees; in this case for an Alice in Wonderland themed display at the recent Pinewood Studios Futures Festival.

Thanks to Kahina on our Discord server for the heads-up!

The post Dead Tree Given New Life on Narnia Film Set appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Last week, NarniaWeb received a tip that Andrew Weisblum will serve as an editor on Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

Weisblum is a frequent collaborator with Darren Aronofsky and Wes Anderson. His past credits include:

• Caught Stealing (2025)
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
• tick, tick… BOOM! (2022)*
• The Whale (2022)
• The French Dispatch (2021)
• mother! (2017)
• Noah (2014)
• Black Swan (2011)*

* Twice he has received Academy Award nominations for Achievement in Film Editing.

Following the report, we identified a photograph taken on the first day of public filming that appears to show Weisblum seated beside Gerwig inside a covered tent near video monitors. Weisblum’s presence was not reported at the time.

While Weisblum has yet to publicly mention Narnia or The Magician’s Nephew (his agent did not respond to a request for comment), he recently discussed his approach to editing adaptations in an interview promoting Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, based on the novel by Charlie Huston.

I did not read [Caught Stealing]. I thought about it and decided the film is not being made exclusively for people who are aficionados of the book, and I want the story to be clear for people who love the book or people who don’t.

I needed to keep my objectivity as much as possible in reading the script and in communicating what needed to be communicated in the film, not subconsciously rely on information that I had from the book that maybe wasn’t being conveyed in the movie, if that makes sense. It needed to stand alone. The story needed to stand alone.

You know, it’s funny, I’ve worked on a bunch of projects that are based on source materials, some more well-known than others. And right now, I’m working on a film that’s very well, the source material is very well known. Once again, I’m choosing not to refer back to that material because we’re doing our own take on it. You know, we did our own take on that.

I think that’s been true pretty much every time, not to treat any material, even the script, as sacrosanct, because you have to listen to the movie, listen to the footage, listen to the performances, and be open to rewrite or rethink things that aren’t 100% what they need to be.”

Andrew Weisblum, Art of the Cut

Production on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew has wrapped in London. Alongside Gerwig and editor Andrew Weisblum, production design was led by James Chinlund, cinematography by Seamus McGarvey, costume design by Jacqueline Durran, and the score by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt.

Have a scoop or inside information about Netflix’s Narnia production? Help keep NarniaWeb up to date by sending us an anonymous Spy Report here!

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With principal photography now complete on Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, new casting details are beginning to emerge from Greta Gerwig’s first Chronicles of Narnia film.

NarniaWeb has received a report that British actress, writer, and director Susan Wokoma has been cast in an undisclosed role.

Wokoma is best known for her role as Edith in Netflix’s Enola Holmes franchise, a character she is set to reprise in the third installment this year. Her credits include the comedy series Chewing Gum, in which she starred opposite Michaela Coel, as well as BBC’s Cheaters. In addition to her on-screen work, Wokoma has an extensive background in voice acting across television series and video games.

In 2017, Wokoma earned a place on BAFTA’s “Breakthrough Brits” list, highlighting her rise as a standout talent in British film and television.

Additional cast members believed to appear in the film include Gerard Monaco and James Murray.

• Monaco’s screen credits span more than two decades and include roles in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Blitz (2019), and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. He has built a reputation for a wide range of small roles across film and television.

• Murray has primarily worked in British television and miniseries, most notably portraying Prince Andrew across 13 episodes of Netflix’s The Crown. His recent credits also include Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

Details surrounding all three roles remain under wraps, and Netflix has not officially confirmed any of the castings. Representatives for Wokoma, Monaco, and Murray did not respond to our requests for comment.

Previously confirmed cast members for The Magician’s Nephew include David McKenna as Digory Kirke, Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew, Emma Mackey as Queen Jadis, Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, and Denise Gough in an unknown role.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is the first of “at least” two films Greta Gerwig is developing for Netflix based on the books by C.S. Lewis, which will open later this year.

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NarniaWeb has learned that principal photography on Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew has officially concluded in London, following a 6-month shoot which started back in August.

Filming had initially been scheduled to start in July and conclude by December, however a short delay at the start of production ended up pushing the schedule back by a month.

Overall, the shoot has spanned three concurrent studio locations — Shepperton, Longcross, and Cardington — and taken in a variety of different real-world filming locations across the cities of London, Manchester and Bradford.

The film now moves into its post-production phase, where the likes of Framestore and Weta are already hard at work on the visual effects, and with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt collaborating together on the score. Other post-production activities are anticipated to take place at Netflix’s facilities in New York, including editing and sound mixing. Whilst the editor for the movie has not yet been confirmed, Greta Gerwig has previously worked with Nick Houy on all three of her previous films.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will debut with a two-week IMAX run worldwide beginning November 26, before arriving on Netflix on Christmas Day.

The post Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Officially Wraps Filming appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Before landing the lead role of Digory Kirke in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Belfast-born actor David McKenna was already busy with another high-profile project.

In September 2024, McKenna filmed a new BBC television adaptation of Lord of the Flies, based on the classic novel by William Golding, and we now have our first look at that performance with the release of a 40-second teaser trailer!

Though brief, the trailer features McKenna throughout and he can be heard at the 12-second mark delivering a line of dialogue: “There’s more littluns than I remember on the plane. We need to think about food and shelter.”

McKenna plays the role of Piggy, one of the central characters. Here’s a synopsis from BBC: 

“Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash. In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group’s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy.”

NarniaWebbers in the UK will be able to watch all four episodes of Lord of the Flies on BBC iPlayer starting February 8, with BBC One airing the series weekly from 9pm that same night.

For those keen to learn more about David McKenna, a 2022 spotlight on The Stephen Nolan Show offers a more personal look at his journey, including the serious health challenges he’s faced growing up and his early passion for theatre.

Will you be checking out McKenna’s performance in Lord of the Flies before seeing him as Digory?

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The distribution saga surrounding Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia film is proving to be almost as dramatic as C.S. Lewis’ world itself.

What initially appeared to be a familiar Netflix-versus-theatres dispute has taken on new significance following Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros., placing Narnia in the middle of broader concerns about the future of theatrical releases.

For years, Netflix positioned itself as an alternative to the traditional studio system, prioritizing instant streaming access over box office performance. That approach fueled long-standing anxiety among theatre owners and fans, who have worried that Netflix’s growing influence could further erode the theatrical model. Those concerns only intensified once Netflix acquired Warners, one of the industry’s most established theatrical studios.

In response, Netflix executives have sought to reassure the industry that Warner Bros.’ theatrical business will remain intact. Speaking recently with The New York Times, CEO Ted Sarandos said the studio’s films would continue to follow the industry-standard 45-day theatrical window, emphasizing that Netflix intends to compete seriously in theatres rather than treat box office runs as a formality.

I understand that folks are emotional about it because they love it and they don’t want it to go away. And they think that we’ve been doing things to make it go away. We haven’t. When this deal closes, we will own a theatrical distribution engine that is phenomenal and produces billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don’t want to put at risk. We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows. I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.”

Ted Sarandos

While those remarks were meant to steady skeptics’ nerves, they’ve now drawn renewed attention to Narnia‘s upcoming release.

As previously reported, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is currently slated for a limited theatrical release: a two-week exclusive run on roughly 1,000 IMAX screens around Thanksgiving, followed by its debut on Netflix at Christmas. The arrangement came after sustained pressure from Gerwig, whose leverage increased significantly after Barbie became a billion-dollar global hit in 2023. While the IMAX window marked a real concession by Netflix’s standards, it remains far more limited than the theatrical treatment typically given to large-scale franchises.

Until recently, that compromise was largely viewed as a one-off exception — a prestige release designed to satisfy a filmmaker without changing their core business model. But Sarandos’s recent comments have since changed the expectations.

Will Netflix Release Narnia in More Theatres?

If Netflix now believes in the value of a 45-day theatrical window, exhibitors are asking why that philosophy does not apply to one of its most prominent upcoming films?

That question was raised publicly this week by Eduardo Acuna, CEO of Regal Cineworld Group, the second-largest theatre chain in the United States, in a conversation with Puck’s Matt Belloni. Acuna argued that Narnia represents a clear opportunity for Netflix to demonstrate that its commitment to theatrical releases is more than for show. If the company truly intends to preserve the Warners model, he suggested, it should apply it immediately by giving Narnia a wide, theatrical run across all formats.

Why don’t [Netflix] give 45 days to Narnia and show it in every format, not only IMAX? Narnia looks more like a Warner Bros. movie than a Netflix movie. Consumers would love that, Greta Gerwig would love that. I don’t see who wouldn’t love that.”

Eduardo Acuna

From the exhibitor’s perspective, the logic is straightforward. Narnia already resembles a traditional tentpole film with a globally recognized fantasy property, broad family appeal, a prestige director, and the kind of scale that benefits from theatrical exhibition. Treating it like a conventional studio release would reinforce Netflix’s claim that it sees genuine value in theatres.

Still, Netflix may see little incentive to change course. While the company is now set to own Warner’s theatrical infrastructure, its core business remains subscription-driven. Expanding Narnia to a wide theatrical release would delay one of Netflix’s most anticipated titles from reaching its platform and risk setting expectations it may not yet be prepared to meet across its broader slate.

There’s also the IMAX factor to consider. Do theatres even have the ability to show Narnia with an IMAX exclusive deal for those first two weeks? Could that arrangement be amended if Netflix wanted to expand the release? Any move toward a wide release would likely ruffle feathers at IMAX, where CEO Rich Gelfond has been championing the film to investors as a true “exclusive” event.

It seems that whatever happens with the release of Narnia, this distribution story likely has a few more twists and turns before its November 26 release.

Do you think Narnia should get a wider theatrical release beyond the IMAX window, or is the current plan enough? Share your thoughts below!

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NarniaWeb has learned through multiple sources that Weta FX will be contributing visual effects work to Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig.

In addition to Weta FX, visual effects are also being handled by London-based Framestore and beloFX, among other studios. While details on how sequences are being divided between VFX houses are not yet known, a source indicated to us that Weta FX’s contribution will likely be smaller in scope compared to Framestore’s workload.

The studio previously worked on Disney and Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, then operating under the name Weta Digital. Weta produced over 300 visual effects shots for the film, contributing to sequences such as the White Witch and Werewolf in the “Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance” scene, the nighttime raid on Miraz’s castle, and the “Door in the Air” sequence near the end of the film.

Founded in New Zealand, Weta FX is one of the most acclaimed visual effects studios in the world with Academy Award–winning work on films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Jungle Book, and Avatar: The Way of Water. The studio operates facilities in Wellington, Melbourne, and Vancouver.

It is worth noting that Weta FX is separate from Weta Workshop, which specializes in physical props, miniatures, costumes, and concept design.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is currently scheduled to debut in IMAX theatres worldwide on November 26, before releasing on Netflix on Christmas Day.

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In this episode of Talking Beasts: The Narnia Podcast, the podcasters look back on a wild year on NarniaWeb in which details about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation finally started to emerge… slowly.

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Filming on the extended Jadis chase sequence for Netflix’s Chronicles of Narnia adaptation has resumed, pushing on into the freezing January winter after first being shot during the summer months.

What’s on Netflix shared new photos and videos taken this past weekend at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, confirming that this is the same large-scale chase sequence previously filmed across Manchester, London, and Bradford in August and September. Production has now returned to the sequence, picking it back up in a new location as filming continues into the new year.

The Greenwich shoot briefly confused onlookers, with some members of the public mistaking the production for Avengers: Doomsday. However, the period vehicles, costuming, and familiar staging seen in the images make it very clear that the footage belongs to Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

As with earlier sightings from this sequence, Jadis is once again seen moving through mid-century London streets, pursued by police, with Digory seemingly being held captive. While Emma Mackey has been cast as the White Witch, all publicly visible filming of this chase so far has made use of a stunt double, rather than Mackey herself.

Video was captured from Instagram user gerald.lynch.cockney and photos from HowesImages. You can view more images of the chase sequence here via What’s On Netflix.

Related:

• Jadis Crashes a Royal Parade | NarniaWeb Set Report
• New Set Photos Show Jadis Rampaging Through Tower of London
• Jadis Appears to Use Wand During London Chase in New Set Video

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On Wednesday, Netflix released a press statement indicating that the title of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew would simply be Narnia. But apparently, that might not be the case.

Following the announcement, Netflix updated its website and app to include a new placeholder entry for the film. Adding a placeholder entry on the Netflix app a year or so ahead of release is standard practice for all of Netflix’s in-house productions. Whilst the listing for the UK, US and other English language markets bears the now familiar single-word title of Narnia, many eagle-eyed fans overseas have spotted alternative titles being used in certain non-English language markets.

In Brazil, NarniaWebber João Victor notified us that the film is being listed under the title ‘Narnia: O Sobrinho do Mago’ and in Italy, Twitter user Nicola reported that the film is being listed with the title ‘Narnia: Il Nipote Del Mago’; both of which translate as ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’.

NarniaWeb reached out to Netflix, who clarified that they have not yet announced the film’s official title. But, these placeholders mark the first time Netflix has acknowledged The Magician’s Nephew as the book being adapted in any of its official communications.

It is not uncommon for films in general to receive different title variations in different countries (e.g., The Avengers vs Avengers Assemble)

It is also worth noting that Narnia is the title that the project was registered under with the Directors Guild of America (DGA) back in 2023.

It is therefore not quite clear at this stage whether this additional Magician’s Nephew subtitle is going to be be utilized exclusively for certain international markets, or whether it will eventually get added to the UK, US and other English language markets nearer to release.

Update 01/13/26

It appears that Netflix has started removing these placeholders in most countries outside the US, including England, Brazil, Canada, and Japan.

Are you in a non-UK/US market? How does the Netflix app display the title in your region? Let us know in the comments or send a screenshot to spy[at]narniaweb.com!

The post ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ Placeholder Appears on Netflix in Select Countries (UPDATED) appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

As part of its What Next? showcase highlighting the streamer’s upcoming slate of films and television shows, Netflix released a new press statement announcing the film’s working title, release window, and producing team.

Netflix is preparing to transport audiences to Narnia, the enchanted realm created by author C.S. Lewis, with a feature film unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard before.

Written and directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Little Women), the highly anticipated adaptation will debut this year in IMAX theaters in November, ahead of its release on Netflix in December.

Gerwig, whose films have found fresh, original ways into beloved stories, brings her singular vision to Lewis’s iconic world explored in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Filled with mythic battles and unforgettable creatures and characters, the seven-book collection launched in 1950 and has sold more than 115 million copies and been translated into 57 languages worldwide.

While details of the forthcoming film remain locked behind enchanted doors, it’ll be an adventure that invites in both longtime fans and new magic-seekers.

Produced by Gerwig, Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal, and Vincent Sieber-Smith, with executive producers Douglas Gresham and Melvin Adams for the C.S. Lewis Estate alongside Patty Whitcher, the film will be the first chapter in Netflix’s cinematic journey through Narnia.”

While most of the names attached to the project have been previously reported, the release formally adds Melvin Adams as an executive producer, who has long represented the C.S. Lewis Estate.

Notably, although Gerwig is confirmed to be adapting The Magician’s Nephew as the first film, Netflix continues to present the project simply under the title Narnia, rather than naming the specific book.

The announcement also marks Netflix’s first official press release related to Narnia since 2019, when the streamer revealed that Matthew Aldrich would serve as creative architect on an early iteration of the adaptation. That version of the project ultimately stalled out before Gerwig came on board.

Find out everything we know about Netflix’s Narnia!

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2025 was a landmark year for the Narnia community. Fans celebrated 75 years of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, revisiting the series and voting on a definitive ranking of the books. Walden Media’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe film adaptations turned 15 and 20 years old, respectively, marked with special cast reunions.

Most of the conversation, though, revolved around Netflix and Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptations. From casting calls and on-set photos to crew announcements and cryptic hints, fans followed every development closely, discussing what it might mean for the series.

Below are the Top 10 NarniaWeb stories of 2025. Rankings are based on a combination of site readership, social media engagement, and community discussion.

10. Narnia is Coming Back to the Big Screen

One of the very first major stories of the year was the culmination of reports we had been hearing throughout 2024: Greta Gerwig’s first Narnia film would receive a worldwide IMAX release on November 26, 2026.

For fans who have been following the franchise’s long and uncertain journey back to the screen since 2010, this announcement was a huge moment. From Joe Johnston’s and David Magee’s long-developing The Silver Chair, to Matthew Aldrich’s early work at Netflix, and finally to Gerwig taking the helm, the news made the project feel tangible in a way it hadn’t for many years.

Gerwig emphasized that, given the “scope and grandeur of the material,” a theatrical release was important to her vision. Securing an IMAX debut required Netflix to soften its traditionally theatre-averse stance, resulting in a deal that granted Gerwig exclusive access to roughly 1,000 IMAX screens worldwide for a two-week window. 

While the IMAX deal sparked controversy within the industry, for Narnia fans it marked a long-awaited moment. After years of uncertainty, the announcement made it clear that The Chronicles of Narnia was no longer a hypothetical future project, but a film with a date and real momentum.

9. New BBC Narnia Documentary

One of Narnia’s older screen adaptations received renewed attention this year with an all-new remaster and a two-hour documentary featuring more than 30 members of the original cast and crew, including many of its young stars. Notably absent from the reunion were Warwick Davis (Reepicheep, Glimfeather) and Tom Baker (Puddleglum).

Beyond reminiscing on old stories from set, the documentary offered new insight into the series’s production history — including whether the filmmakers ever seriously considered adapting The Last Battle and the thinking behind casting Barbara Kellerman as both the White Witch and the Lady of the Green Kirtle in The Silver Chair.

NarniaWeb’s initial post on the documentary ranked among our most-read stories of the year, drawing 25,000 views on the site and reaching over 2.2 million impressions on our social platforms. This huge response served as a reminder of just how cherished the BBC adaptations remain, despite receiving less attention than their big-screen counterparts.

Hopefully, we’ll see BBC change their mind and decide to release it worldwide in 2026.

8. The Magician’s Nephew Confirmed… Kind Of

In January, NarniaWeb first broke the news that casting had begun for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation. We obtained a copy of a casting call seeking two children, one boy and one girl, to portray characters aged 10 or 11. These details all but confirmed that Netflix would be adapting the first story in Narnia’s internal chronology, The Magician’s Nephew.

Reaction to the news was overwhelmingly positive. Many fans (even publication order enthusiasts) welcomed the decision to adapt a story that has never appeared on the big screen, rather than revisiting The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe once again. Interest extended beyond longtime readers as well, with aspiring Polly and Digory hopefuls helping make this the most-read story on NarniaWeb in all of 2025. More than 45,000 readers visited our write-up, with the news reaching over a million people across our social media platforms.

Later in the year, we heard directly from individuals involved in the production that The Magician’s Nephew had indeed been confirmed.

7. Timeline Change

One of the year’s most discussed stories began when NarniaWeb first reported that at least some scenes in The Magician’s Nephew would shift the setting from 1900 to the 1950s. The conclusion was initially based on a casting call we obtained in August, which sought boys with “short, tidy hair to match the 1950s setting,” immediately setting off a wave of speculation. Was the change intended as a framing device? Could C.S. Lewis himself appear as a narrator-type character?

Only days later, the first images from set appeared online. Background posters and newspapers visible in the photos clearly referenced the year 1955 — the same year The Magician’s Nephew was first published. The evidence strongly suggests that the film’s entire timeline has been updated, although Netflix has yet to confirm the change officially.

Regardless of the motivation, the timeline shift proved to be one of the year’s most debated developments. Polling conducted by NarniaWeb showed that more than than 45% of respondents opposed the change, 25% were unsure, and 30% thought it could be a positive one.

6. Practical Effects

In one of the more unexpected entries on this year’s list, NarniaWeb reported that long-time creature effects artist Neal Scanlan would be working on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia, indicating that practical effects like animatronics and puppetry would be used to help bring Narnia’s creatures to life.

It quietly became our most shared news report on Instagram, with 13,000 shares and nearly 3 million views, showing that there is a contingent of Narnia and film fans just as excited about hands-on effects as they are about casting or set details.

Scanlan is a veteran of animatronics and practical effects, having worked at the legendary Jim Henson Creature Shop during the 1990s. Over the course of his career, he has earned five Academy Awards, bringing a level of expertise fans hope will help make Narnia’s creatures feel authentic on screen, alongside contributions from visual effects houses such as Framestore.

5. On Location Filming in England

Filming began on location in England in August, giving fans their first genuine glimpse behind the scenes of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia. Photos from the first day revealed Jadis’ stunt double costume, actors portraying Digory and Polly, and expansive sets populated by hundreds of extras. The scenes appeared to depict a post-war, reconstruction-era British streets, complete with period details and a striking billboard featuring a golden-maned Lion.

Our coverage became the third-most-read article on NarniaWeb in 2025. Former Narnia stars took notice of filming as well, with Ben Barnes liking our post and William Moseley commenting that he wished he could be on set for the new film.

In the following weeks, we saw moments including Jadis riding into the Tower of London with Digory, crashing a royal parade, possibly using magic in another scene, and shots of Digory walking home.

The ongoing flow of set photos from filming made for an especially active end to the summer, with over 3 million views across our social channels and fans dissecting every frame captured.

4. Disney’s Narnia Turns 20

The 20th anniversary of Disney and Walden Media’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe sparked a huge wave of nostalgia when the Pevensie actors reunited and recreated a behind-the-scenes photo from two decades earlier with director Andrew Adamson.

Georgie Henley shared the image on Instagram alongside William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, and Skandar Keynes. The images we shared across NarniaWeb’s social platforms quickly amassed over 10 million views, demonstrating just how deeply these versions of the characters resonate with fans.

In an interview with Metro, Popplewell reflected on the bond the four actors still share:

The four of us are bonded because we had this incredible adventure together that spanned many years throughout our childhood and adolescence. But that translated very well into life beyond that adventure. So we see each other whenever we can.”

Anna Popplewell

To celebrate the milestone, fans joined a 20th-anniversary watch party on NarniaWeb’s Discord, re-watching the film together and chatting with Talking Beasts podcasters and fellow community members.

3. “Not Your Grandmother’s Narnia”?

While Netflix has kept details on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia under lock and key, with production members admitting to getting a “slap on the wrist” for just mentioning working on the project, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has spoken freely about the film on several occasions. Though not creatively involved, his comments have drawn outsized attention given IMAX’s central role in the film’s theatrical release.

The remarks that generated the most discussion came during an IMAX Investor Day presentation, when Gelfond described the project as follows: “This is not your mother’s or your grandmother‘s Narnia. The music in it is unbelievably contemporary music, which IMAX fans like. I’m not gonna say specifically, but things like Pink Floyd and The Doors.”

The quote quickly spread online and became NarniaWeb’s most-engaged post on X of the year (with 2.6 million impressions) as well as a Top 10 read article on the site. Much of the reaction focused on the contradiction between calling the music contemporary while naming artists whose popularity peaked decades ago, with many fans also feeling the language was dismissive of the books themselves.

Readers have pointed out that Gelfond has previously shown limited familiarity with the series, twice suggesting The Chronicles of Narnia consisted of “eight or nine books,” and elsewhere characterizing Narnia as a children’s “Christmas story”.

Even so, the remarks struck a nerve by tapping into long-standing concerns among fans about the upcoming film’s tone and its faithfulness to the source material. With Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (both of whom built their careers in contemporary music) attached as composers, and producer Amy Pascal previously describing Gerwig’s Narnia as being “all about rock and roll,” Gelfond’s comments certainly intensified an already sensitive topic.

2. Narnia Turns 75!

The 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was marked by a wide range of commemorative releases. New Narnia-themed stamps, book covers, and board books were commissioned to celebrate the series’ first release in 1950.

Publisher HarperCollins completed a full refresh of the entire Narnia catalogue, including new cover art by Owen Richardson. Fans in our Discord channel quickly noticed easter eggs inspired by the Planet Narnia theory were hidden in the cover art.

To mark the occasion, NarniaWeb also revisited a familiar tradition: ranking the books. This time, readers were asked to choose their top three, resulting in a more nuanced picture of how the community views the series today. While The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Horse and His Boy ultimately claimed first and second place, the remaining rankings were remarkably close.

Here’s to the next 75 years of C.S. Lewis’ classic!

1. Meryl Madness

Without question, the most controversial and widely discussed story of 2025 involved reports from two outlets claiming that Meryl Streep was in talks to voice Aslan. The first report went further, alleging the character would also be gender-swapped. To date, Netflix, Greta Gerwig, and the production team have not commented on the story.

In the absence of official clarification, fans have speculated endlessly. In our Discussion Forum alone, the topic spanned 20 pages of discussion and garnered more than 45,000 views as members attempted to make sense of the report.

Would Streep be one of several voices for Aslan? Could her voice be altered in post-production? Was there confusion, and might she actually be playing a different character altogether? What if the report really comes to pass?

Whether the report proves accurate or not (see NarniaWeb’s investigation), the story triggered intense backlash online. Netflix’s continued silence has unsettled some fans, while others emphasize that the project is still in its early stages. Either way, the controversy cast a long shadow over much of the year’s subsequent coverage — and led to a noticeable sense of fatigue within the Narnia community.

We would like to thank all our readers, listeners, and Patreon supporters for making NarniaWeb’s 2025 what it was.

Over the past year, we published 106 articles, helping the site reach 1.4 million views — all ad-free, thanks to our Patreon supporters. We also released 14 episodes of Talking Beasts, which were listened to 36,000 times, and hosted thousands of user posts in our Discussion Forum, generating more than 250,000 views. Across our social media platforms, we shared hundreds of posts and updates that were viewed over 55 million times in total.

As we look ahead to an even busier 2026, our mission remains the same:

• Provide objective reporting on the latest Narnia news and clearly distinguish between fact and rumor
• Facilitate civil, productive, and enjoyable discussion about the world of Narnia
• Amplify the voices of readers who want filmmakers to treat C.S. Lewis’s beloved books with the respect they deserve.

Thank you for being part of the NarniaWeb community. Further Up and Further In!

What was the biggest story for you in 2025? What was your favorite? Was there anything we missed? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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We’re told that principal photography on Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew will wrap for 2025 on Christmas Eve, with production set to resume in January, according to a source close to the production.

Production on Narnia (inclusive of rehearsals) was originally scheduled to run from June through to Christmas, according to the initial casting call. However, cameras did not get rolling in earnest until early August. Whilst some smaller scenes may have been shot before this point, a delayed start appears to have pushed the overall schedule back by a couple of weeks.

That revised timeline has now been corroborated as well by several public figures involved with the film, all of whom indicate that filming is set to resume in the new year following the holiday break.

Daniel Craig, speaking in an interview with the Radio Times, joked that he was “hoping to get out of Narnia in time for Christmas”. In the same interview, Radio Times also referred to him as “the eponymous magician, Uncle Andrew,” seemingly confirming his role.

In addition, another recent interview with Emma Mackey, published in early December, indicated that she was only “a little over halfway done shooting Narnia.” Whilst it’s not quite clear exactly when this interview was conducted, the comments suggest that a significant portion of filming still remained at that point.

Filming on the set near Longcross Studios was scheduled to conclude no later than December 12th, according to the terms of the planning application, while filming at Cardington Studios entered into its sixth week as of Monday, 15th December. It is not yet known when filming at Shepperton Studios will conclude, but the ongoing activity at both Cardington and Shepperton suggests that production resuming in January could take place at one or both locations.

With principal photography resuming in January, it should be noted that it is standard practice to schedule a short period of additional photography for re-shoots and pick-ups later during the post-production phase.

Update 01/01/26

Filming picks up on Janurary 5th!

The post Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Wraps 2025 Filming, Production Resumes in New Year appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Most fans assumed that Producer Amy Pascal was being flippant when she said Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia movie would be “all about rock ‘n roll.” But now, new comments seem to suggest there is at least some substance here:

This is not your mother’s or your grandmother‘s Narnia. The music in it is unbelievably contemporary music, which IMAX fans like. I’m not gonna say specifically, but things like Pink Floyd and The Doors. 

Rich Gelfond, IMAX CEO

What does all this mean for the film? Listen to our discussion and then post a comment below!

The post The Musician’s Nephew? Deciphering New Comments From IMAX CEO | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

The data, provided by Greenlight Analytics, offers an early look of awareness and interest for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew among films currently tracked for 2026.

What The Data Measures

The figures come from The Quorum (via What’s On Netflix), which conducts regular pre-release tracking surveys to measure how audiences perceive upcoming films. In the most recent round, approximately 2,000 respondents leaving movie theatres were surveyed about a range of upcoming film and streaming titles.

Quorum’s tracking focuses on several key metrics:

• Awareness: Whether respondents are aware that the movie exists or is in development.
• Interest: Whether respondents express a desire to watch the film after being presented with basic information such as the premise, creative team and cast involved, and any available trailers.
• Theatrical Intent: Willingness to see the film in theatres, if given the option.
• Willingness to Pay: Counts respondents willing to spend money in some form to see the film. This includes a theatrical ticket, rental or purchase, or subscribing to a service specifically to watch it.

In the latest survey, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew posted the following results:

Among the Netflix titles surveyed, The Magician’s Nephew emerged as the most recognized overall and recorded one of the strongest interest scores. Interest is particularly high among younger respondents (under 35), where it rises to 51%, and the data shows a slight male skew among those interested.

How Does Narnia Compare?

Direct comparisons between long-lead theatrical releases and streaming titles are not always easy, as marketing timelines and audience exposure can differ significantly. For example, Avatar: Fire and Ash currently tracks at 76% awareness and 56% interest. However, in July, just weeks before its first trailer dropped, interest sat at 47%, nearly identical to where Narnia stands now.

Looking at other major franchise releases currently tracked for 2026, Narnia holds up well in terms of interest and willingness to pay, even as awareness varies widely across titles.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey currently has 33% awareness and 45% interest, with 39% expressing a theatrical intent and 50% willing to pay. Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu posts similar awareness at 30% and slightly lower interest at 41%, alongside 38% theatrical intent and 48% willingness to pay.

Among the higher-profile franchise entries, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping leads the group with 43% awareness and 47% interest, while 44% indicate theatrical intent and 55% willingness to pay. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is registering 45% awareness, 49% interest, 43% theatrical intent, and 52% willingness to pay.

A more directly comparable set comes from 2025 Netflix films that had limited theatrical releases, like Narnia, tracked in the week immediately ahead of debut:

• Frankenstein: 39% awareness, 45% interest, 34% theatrical intent

• Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man: 29% awareness, 44% interest, 32% theatrical intent

• Jay Kelly: 20% awareness, 34% interest, 25% theatrical intent

What the Tracking Data Suggests So Far

Early tracking numbers can be misleading if viewed in isolation, since audience interest often shifts (for better or worse) as marketing ramps up. At this stage, the data should not be read as predictive of viewership totals or long-term success.

What it does offer is a snapshot of where Gerwig’s Narnia stands relative to other major films on the 2026 calendar. Awareness remains solid, and interest is quite strong for a project still ahead of its marketing rollout. Taken together, the data would suggest that early controversies have yet to meaningfully register with general audiences.

Any evaluation of the film’s eventual performance will need to account for its limited theatrical window and screen count, which makes direct comparisons to earlier Narnia releases or traditional box-office models less straightforward.

While this tracking data captures general sentiment, you can listen to a few fan perspectives in a recent episode of Talking Beasts: The Narnia Podcast, which discusses expectations with one year to go.

The film is scheduled to debut in 1,000 IMAX screens worldwide on November 26, 2026.

What do you make of these early numbers? Let us know your reaction by leaving a comment below.

The post Tracking Data Shows Strong Interest for Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Ahead of 2026 Release appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Emma Mackey has been discussing her role as Jadis in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew in a string of interviews whilst promoting her latest movie, Ella McCay, in which she plays the titular role.

Whilst Narnia’s strict non-disclosure policy meant that the actress gave predictably tight-lipped responses to many of the questions posed, there were still a few interesting insights to be gleaned from her answers.

First, speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the world premiere of Ella McCay in Los Angeles, Emma said that she said she thought fans would be “surprised” by the film, and that they were “in for a treat”, echoing similar sentiments raised in the past few weeks by composer Andrew Wyatt and distributor Rich Gelfond.

Q: What do you think might surprise fans the most about this take on the franchise?

A: On Narnia? Oh, I mean, everything. I think people are in for a treat, and… I hope, I think, it’s going to be wonderful, it feels wonderful. We’re in it right now, so I can’t say anything about it, but yeah, it’s a dream come true.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Time Magazine, Emma remarked that the “stakes are high” for a big project such as Narnia, whilst when speaking to USA Today the actress once again clarified that the books had been a “big part” of her childhood and that playing the role of Jadis had been “very meaningful” to her.

Q: Working with J.J and Greta, have you enjoyed your fantasy movie phase?

A: I grew up on those kinds of films and those books. “Narnia” was a big part of my childhood, as were the “Star Wars” movies. I do gravitate to them. I’m very happy to be in that space right now.

Q: After growing up on the “Narnia” books, what’s it like to now play a beloved character like the White Witch?

A: It’s very meaningful, and what’s even more meaningful is that Greta gets to bring her interpretation. She’s so deeply passionate about cinema, and her brain is just constantly ticking away. I like to be around those kinds of brains every day, if possible, because it’s very elevating, enriching and playful, too.

Continuing on with movie website Collider, who also asked about her recent work on both Greta Gerwig’s Narnia and JJ Abram’s Ghost Writer, Emma said that it had been a “thrill” to work with both directors and that the projects were both “very exciting” but “very different”.

Likewise, Hollywood trade paper Variety also asked Emma to compare and contrast some of her recent projects by articulating the differences between the characters of Ella McCay and Jadis:

There’s a big gap between Ella and Jadis, which I’m currently filming on, but I get to be around some of the greatest, most passionate cinema brains in movie history. It’s such a privilege. Both Greta and Jim are very truthful in their approach and in their manner, and they care about the work deeply. Being around people like that is very invigorating and enriching and they lead by example all the way.

Emma Mackey can next be seen starring in Ella McCay, which releases in cinemas on December 12th, and JJ Abram’s Ghost Writer, which is set for release sometime during 2026.

The post Emma Mackey Teases a “Surprising” and “Wonderful” Narnia Adaptation appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Newly discovered video interviews with Greta Gerwig posted from way back in December 2023 and January 2024, appear to show an early look at Narnia artwork displayed on the wall of her office.

The interviews, conducted by ShotDeck and Deadline while Gerwig was still promoting Barbie, briefly reveal several large printed images arranged in a neat line behind her. Eagle-eyed NarniaWebber Alex Anar was the first to notice that some of these images bear a resemblance to key locations from C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew.

But could these really be for Narnia? The video’s timing is telling because, just a month earlier, Gerwig had revealed publicly that she was in the early stages of development for her Narnia movie. She described that phase in November 2023 as being in the Wood Between the Worlds:

“I’m in whatever part of my process is just like terror, I guess […] I’m in the Wood between the Worlds. It’s a wood that goes on forever, you can’t see the sky, it’s so dense, you can’t see the end of it. And there are all these pools and at the bottom of each pool is a universe. And anyway… that’s where I am. […] The problem with the Wood between the Worlds is that you can often forget what you’re doing there (laughs). This is actually a feature of it. You kinda get a little bit of amnesia. So you have to remember ‘where am I going? Which world am I trying to get to now?’ That’s what I feel like. I’m very much in that.”

Greta Gerwig

The images are arranged in a way that resembles an early-stage “mood board” or reference wall, which is a common tool during script development.

Among the visible pieces, one image resembles the Tree of Youth/Tree of Protection, a large tree atop a hill. Another shows a wooded scene with what looks to be a reflection of water, which is evocative of the Wood between the Worlds. A third image features what looks like a black sky with a red sun, similar to the dying sun in Charn.

The remaining images are less discernible, but nothing appears to show anything that would necessarily contradict the events or setting of The Magician’s Nephew. Of course, none of this confirms that the artwork is definitely from the Narnia production either.

Even if it is connected, it may not represent concept art created for the film. Early in development, directors often pin up stock photography or screenshots from other films as reference to help shape tone, mood, or structure during the writing process. And since these interviews were filmed before most department heads would have been hired, it is unlikely that any designs visible here reflect the final visual direction of the film.

There is precedent for this kind of early and accidental reveal. Concept art for Walden Media’s ‘Dawn Treader’ was similarly first noticed by fans in a behind-the-scenes interview in 2008.

The timing and imagery make it very likely that this artwork played some role in Gerwig’s early work on the project.

For fans eager for any glimpse into the adaptation, this may offer a first glimpse at several familiar Narnian locations and a rare look at the earliest stages of the film’s creative development. 

Help keep NarniaWeb up-to-date by submitting a spy report. You can send in news stories or videos that you’ve seen online or a special scoop if you’ve got photos or inside information!

The post Early Artwork for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Spotted? appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

The BBC is set to release a brand new reading of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe on Christmas Day as part of its The Read television series.

The abridged, hour long, reading of the book is from Welsh actor Steffan Rhodri, perhaps best to known to international audiences for his role as Reg Catermole in the seventh Harry Potter movie.

Now into its fourth series, The Read features well known actors performing readings of classic literature, presented within a thematically appropriate staging. Previous episodes have included books such Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, 1984, and A Christmas Carol

The Read follows a similar format to the BBC’s classic children’s television series Jackanory, a show which previously featured a reading of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe across five parts in 1967, as well as Prince Caspian in 1968, both read by British actress Marian Diamond.

The Read: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, is scheduled to air on BBC Four on Christmas Day, and will be available to UK viewers via BBC iPlayer shortly thereafter.

The post BBC To Broadcast New ‘Narnia’ Reading on Christmas Day appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

This week marks 20 years since the theatrical release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!

In this episode, we have compiled highlights from two separate interviews with Georgie Henley (Lucy) and Anna Popplewell (Susan), both originally recorded in 2020.

Enjoy and then post a comment below!

The post Georgie Henley and Anna Popplewell Reflect on Narnia Movies | Talking Beasts Flashback appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Sweet would go on to contribute to Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and for many fans, his artwork remains one of the most beloved elements of the trilogy.

With the film celebrating its 20th anniversary this December, we spoke with Sweet about discovering Narnia as a child, the creative process behind developing the look of the series, and what it was like collaborating with the filmmakers. We also asked whether he had discussions about returning for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

Below is our full conversation.

NarniaWeb: Can you share how you first became involved with Walden’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? What were your first impressions when you heard you’d be helping bring Narnia to life?

Justin Sweet: I got involved because the production designer at the time, Grant Major, had seen some of my artwork in the annual Spectrum: The Best In Contemporary Fantastic Art book, in which I received an award for an illustration I did of a centaur. It was my first film job.

I was very excited as I had been a fan of C.S. Lewis all my life. In 3rd grade my teacher read our class The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. She asked us to illustrate our favourite part. I chose to illustrate what Lewis wrote with the line, “other creatures whom I won’t describe because if I did the grown-ups would probably not let you read this book”. I chose to draw and color a picture of Aslan flying through the air to fight those “other creatures”. My teacher had this framed and in her office for years until she retired and returned it to me.

NarniaWeb: In those early days, what was it like working with Andrew Adamson and team developing the project’s visual identity? What kind of direction or reference were you given?

JS: They were all great to work with. My favorite by far was Grant Major, and I was very disappointed when he left. I think there was probably some sort of art book of reference that Grant put together but mainly, it was ‘let’s just start painting pictures and see what starts to stick’. Most of what I was tasked with was more on the inspirational side.

NarniaWeb: Do you remember the first images you began working on?

JS: Lucy walking through Narnia for the first time. I still have some of those original drawings. I think I started sketching even before I started officially working on the film. I spent a lot of time illustrating scenes, usually with Aslan in them. I enjoyed working on the White Witch too. Lots of concepts of her.

NarniaWeb: Could you walk us through your process of developing the scene where the Pevensie children arrive at Aslan’s camp? How did you approach thumbnails/explorations before settling on this to work up to the final concept?

JS: I don’t remember exactly but I think that image just sort of came out of me. I don’t think there was any direction. Grant more or less just let me go with what inspired me and the image of the kids seeing Aslan for the first time was huge. I’d like to give that scene another shot someday…

NarniaWeb: How soon after LWW did you start working on Prince Caspian? What was it like getting to explore a notably darker story?

JS: I think I started as soon as pre-production started. I loved the whole idea of Prince Caspian. That there were these legends of creatures in the dark woods and that a place called Cair Paravel existed and could possibly be found. It was like us thinking about if there really was a King Arthur and a holy grail etc. A lot of mystery in the story. Reuniting with Legends and seeing Lucy meet Aslan again really moved me.

The Prince Caspian production moved to Prague, and I was allowed to fly over there and work on it. I brought my wife and 3 little kids and was housed in a little apartment 100 feet from the old Square. We were there for a few months and remember that time fondly.

NarniaWeb: Did you have a favourite character and environment to design for in Prince Caspian?

JS: Probably Lucy and Aslan’s reunion. I also liked doing concepts of the forest with Glenstorm and the other creatures. Lucy and Aslan was the heart of it for me though.

NarniaWeb You’ve mentioned before that working on The Voyage of The Dawn Treader was one of your favourite experiences working in film design. Why is that?

JS: Probably because I got to work with my two closest friends in an office right next to Michael Apted. We didn’t have a production designer initially and so it was just Michael coming in and chatting with us often about this and that. We all enjoyed Michael a lot. Michael pretty much said ‘paint what inspires you’ — so we did.

NarniaWeb: ‘Dawn Treader’ started development very early, even before filming on Prince Caspian, and went through several script iterations. What were some of your favourite ideas or concepts that ended up getting cut?

JS: I think there was probably quite a bit but I don’t know if I can recall [the movie] now, haven’t seen it in many years. I do remember being disappointed though.

NarniaWeb: What tools or techniques did you use to create your designs? Do you have a preference? (Question from Forum Moderator Starkat)

JS: I’d usually start doodling in my sketchbook. Once I found something interesting, I’d scan it in and paint it up in Corel painter and or Photoshop. Sometimes a sketch might actually get some watercolor that I’d then scan in and finish digitally.

NarniaWeb: Regarding the unused concept of the albatross and Lucy in ‘Dawn Treader’, what was the brief and thought process on this design? (Question from Patreon supporter ElykRindon the Emerald Minotaur)

JW: One of the best scenes in the story. “Courage dear heart,” and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.”

There was no brief on this from anyone —just me, recognizing what Lewis was saying here and wanting to illustrate it. As a man of Faith, it was powerful to me.

NarniaWeb: Do you have a favourite Narnia book, and what do you love about it? (Question from Patreon supporter Bethuel)

JW: I don’t know if I have a favorite. I recently went through them all again in audio format and loved different things about them all. Favorite scenes were some of the stuff I’ve already mentioned. If I had to pick one, maybe the Voyage of the Dawn Treader?

I liked Eustace’s story with Aslan. I liked the episodic, almost psychedelic quality. Ramandu’s island with his daughter, Star Girl. So much cool stuff in that book. We had a great playlist of music in our little office with that show, Joni Mitchell’s ‘Dawn Treader‘ was of course in there. I remember Douglas Gresham coming in there once with some of his assistants.

NarniaWeb: Are there any images across the three films that you’re most proud of or have stuck with you? (Question from NarniaWeb’s Graphic Designer AJAiken)

JS: There were a couple that I did of Lucy and Aslan that mean a lot to me. My daughter was the model for those. I’m sure there are others.

NarniaWeb: Netflix and Greta Gerwig are set to release an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew next year. You’ve worked with its production designer, James Chinlund, before on The Lion King — were there any conversations to return to Narnia?

JS: Honestly, not sure what I can say about that other than maybe I did return to Narnia…

NarniaWeb: Looking back twenty years later, what stands out to you most about your experience working on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Narnia series?

JS: I was given a lot of freedom to paint what inspired me, which isn’t generally how things work as a concept artist for film. I had some great times being involved on those films. I think my approach is more or less the same. The better projects for me are the ones that I can connect to emotionally. The Narnia books were surely that.

You can find more of Justin Sweet’s work on his website and Instagram account.

The post Justin Sweet Reflects on 20 Years of Disney’s ‘Narnia’ and Teases Return for The Magician’s Nephew (Exclusive) appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

This December marks 20 years since the theatrical release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Next weekend, we are inviting NarniaWebbers around the world to gather on our Discord channel to re-watch and discuss the movie once again . The main discussion will take place in the chat, but you will also be able to listen to Talking Beasts podcasters (and other NarniaWebbers) in the voice channel.

When:

• Friday Dec 12 at 8:00pm ET
• Saturday Dec 13 at 12:00pm ET

How it works:

On the day of the event, a link to the Discord server will be added to this post. A free Discord account is required. (Our Discord server is usually Patreon-exclusive, but will be open to the public during the event)

We will be streaming the movie’s timecode to keep everyone’s movies synchronized. But even if you don’t have a copy of the movie playing at home, you are welcome to join the discussion.

See you there!

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