Cinema chiefs and film-industry insiders have been reacting positively to Netflix’s unprecedented decision to offer a full, wide-theatrical release, to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film, with AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron describing the deal as “the biggest opportunity our industry has ever had to embrace Netflix as a theatrical content provider”.

Echoing those sentiments, the advocacy organization Cinema United described the deal as “welcome news”, adding that they “applaud Ted [Sarandos, co-CEO] and the whole team at Netflix for bringing this film to movie fans around the world“.

But how did we get to this much-heralded outcome after Netflix had resisted the overtures of cinema owners for so long?

The Original Plans

Gerwig’s Narnia movie was originally scheduled to release exclusively in IMAX screens on Thanksgiving Day 2026, for a limited two week run across just 1,000 IMAX screens, before releasing on Netflix less than a month later.

Gerwig was reported to have personally pushed hard, just to even get this limited-release deal from Netflix; a company which has traditionally adopted a “streaming first” philosophy for all its original content. Previously, they had only ever offered limited theatrical runs, in select markets, to just a handful of movies, often merely to meet awards season criteria.

Nevertheless, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos was reported to have reluctantly agreed to the original IMAX compromise for Narnia’s release, likely due to Gerwig’s enhanced star power following the critical and commercial success of Barbie, and after a string of three straight Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards.

Netflix were though apparently keen on the Christmas Day streaming release, as Greta Gerwig is said to be “leaning in” to the Christian aspects of the books with her adaptation, according to a insights offered by film industry journalist Matt Belloni.

Since the IMAX deal was announced however, Netflix had been facing pressure from the cinema chains which host the IMAX screens, about the impact that such a short window of exclusivity would have on their revenues. Some cinema chains, such as Regal and Cinemark, even went as far as to threaten to refuse to play the film at all.

Whilst IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond had threatened to deploy the so-called “nuclear option” of forcing film exhibitors to screen the film regardless, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos was still attempting to convince the chains of Netflix’s long-term intentions for further theatrical releases as recently as April 12th, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, though no discussion of altering the Narnia deal was reported to have taken place at the time.

A Delay in Production

However, that all appears to have changed over the last few weeks as it became clear that the Narnia film (which is around 3 months into a 10 month post-production period) would no longer be able to meet its November 26th deadline.

This postponement appears to have been the follow-on consequence of the 6 week filming delay which we first reported on back in June 2025. It has since been reported that this delay was the result of an injury or illness to one of the main cast, which meant that the film’s producers were forced to push the release date into the new year.

Netflix could, however, simply have chosen to stick with the original limited-release IMAX distribution model on a new date, however the opportunity presented by the delay seemingly allowed them to go in another direction entirely.

Film industry journalist Matt Belloni, speaking on his podcast ‘The Town’, reported that Netflix had been discussing the possibility of a change “for a few months” as a potential Plan B, and indicated that Greta was once again personally involved in securing this new deal.

As a result, the film will now debut with IMAX sneak previews starting on February 10th 2027, before expanding out to a wide theatrical release across all cinemas on Friday February 12th at the start of the President’s Day Weekend. The film will then run in theaters for a full 45 day exclusive window, prior to its streaming release on April 2nd.

Why Did The Strategy Change?

Since the new deal was announced, film industry commentators have been speculating on Netflix’s rationale for making such a bold and unprecedented move; one which will not only mark Netflix’s first wide theatrical release, but which will also mark the first time they have ever distributed any movie by themselves.

Investor website Simply Wall St. links the overall change in strategy to the announced departure in mid-April of Netflix co-CEO and founder Reed Hastings, who had been a strong advocate for the “Streaming First” philosophy within the company.

Similarly, analysis by No Film School surmises that Netflix’s decision to turn to theatrical distribution was likely based on its overall slowing economic growth and stagnating stock price. This, they claim, has been driven by a plateauing subscriber base, and a natural limit on the company’s ability to implement continuous price hikes as a means to increase cash flow.

With Netflix’s recent attempts to grow their company by purchasing Warner Bros. also thwarted, some have argued that a push towards a theatrical distribution system of their own was the only way for the company to continue to drive its shareholder value.

However, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw questions this logic, and argues that a single film which makes profits of just a few hundred million, would be unlikely to be of much value to a company whose annual revenue was over $45 billion last year. He did however concede that theatrical distribution would likely pave the way for financial growth in other areas (such as merchandising) and in less tangible ways (such as for sustaining franchise longevity) due to the heightened brand awareness that a successful cinema run can bring.

What’s Next?

The new Narnia deal, as well as the company’s recent attempted acquisition of Warner Bros, may signify that Netflix do intend to pursue theatrical distribution for other films more closely in the future. However, when asked by the New York Times about the Narnia deal, a Netflix spokesperson is reported to have said: “There’s no change to our theatrical strategy”.

One change that may be forthcoming however is in the marketing department. Netflix’s marketing strategy for the Narnia film has, up until now, been somewhat secretive; a strategy which has in-part been driven by the differing requirements for an instantaneous at-home streaming release, compared with the demands of a full theatrical release that requires cinema goers to plan in advance for.

With the film now changed to a full theatrical release however, Netflix’s previously cagey approach to marketing the film will naturally need to adjust accordingly. It is worth noting however that IMAX and Netflix had already committed to doing some form of a theatrical marketing campaign for the movie, though this may now need to be scaled up.

To hear what the Talking Beasts team thought of the release date change, listen to the latest episode of the NarniaWeb podcast here.

The post Inside the Narnia Deal: Why Netflix Changed Its Strategy appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

NarniaWebbers will have to wait another few months to see Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. The movie adaptation from Greta Gerwig has been delayed to February 10, 2027 and will no longer be an IMAX exclusive.

The same press release also included a subtle casting announcement. Who will Ciarán Hinds be playing and does it suggest The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be set in roughly present day?

Netflix also shipped NarniaWeb a box of items to commemorate The Magician’s Nephew‘s 71st anniversary. It includes a keepsake suggesting the silver apple and a famous line will be in the movie, and also a note “from the desk of Greta Gerwig” on the impact of the book.

Listen to the podcasters’ reactions and post your own below!

The post Release Date Shakeup and Silver Apple Sighting | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Members of the NarniaWeb team received packages containing a copy of the book, along with a gift and a note “from the desk of Greta Gerwig.” This is the the first time the Writer/Director has officially acknowledged The Magician’s Nephew as the source material:

I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to Life. I didn’t know I would grow up to make films, but a universe built out of music is an idea that always lived in my heart. It is the honor of a lifetime to be asked to imagine it into being.

Because of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, I believed in magic and hidden worlds and adventure. I believed that anywhere could be enchanted and that anyone could be swept up into an epic. That wonder and awe were available to everyone, even ordinary people like me. 

I hope this book transforms you as it transformed me. I have also enclosed a special keepsake from the set of the film we just shot in London. I cannot wait to bring the whole movie to you, but for now, I wanted you to be able to hold a piece of Narnia.”

With love, Greta Gerwig

That keepsake was a custom pyrography bookmark made from wood sourced from one of the film’s sets in London, engraved with an image of the Tree of Youth and silver apple with the quote: “Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Awake” below. According to the accompanying note, only 250 copies were produced.

But the box itself might warrant closer inspection. Could this be the box in which Uncle Andrew discovers the Atlantean dust? Or perhaps this is something from Charn? Post your speculations below!

Thank you, Netflix, for the gift commemorating the anniversary of this wonderful story that has impacted so many people for generations.

The post Greta Gerwig, Netflix Send NarniaWeb Surprise ‘Magician’s Nephew’ Anniversary Package appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

A new press release from Netflix has officially confirmed the main cast members for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of ‘The Magician’s Nephew’, including the surprise addition of Northern Irish and Academy Award-nominated actor Ciarán Hinds, in an as-yet undisclosed role.

• David McKenna
• Beatrice Campbell
• Emma Mackey
• Carey Mulligan
• Ciarán Hinds
• Daniel Craig 
• Meryl Streep
• Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
• Denise Gough
• Susan Wokoma 

Ciarán Hinds will be well known to fans of the fantasy genre, having played Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones, Dumbledore’s brother in the final Harry Potter film, and a small role in the Lord of the Rings television spin-off The Rings of Power.

Hind’s role in the film has not been announced. One possibility, we would speculate, is an older Professor Kirke, an aged-up version of the young Digory, played by fellow Belfast native David McKenna.

Also confirmed in the new press release are Kobna Holdbrook Smith and Susan Wokoma, who NarniaWeb first reported on earlier this year. We believe them to be playing Frank and Helen, respectively.

What character do you think Hinds will play in The Magician’s Nephew? Head to our Discussion Forum and let us know!

The post Netflix Reveals 10 Confirmed Narnia Cast Members, Including Ciarán Hinds appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Big changes! Netflix has officially announced that Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will release in February 2027 rather than November 2026. Additionally, its theatrical run will no longer be exclusively on IMAX screens.

New Release Dates

• February 10, 2027 (IMAX sneak previews)
• February 12, 2027 (full theatrical)
• April 2, 2027 (stream on Netflix)

This will be Netflix’s biggest theatrical debut to date, says THR.

New Quotes

Netflix provided the following press release to NarniaWeb:

Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, an epic adventure, will release in IMAX and wide globally in theaters on February 12, 2027, and on Netflix on April 2, 2027. Sneak previews only in IMAX will begin on February 10, 2027. 

A rare phenomenon that spans generations and geographies, Narnia’s release will match the scale and fandom of C. S. Lewis’s beloved books. Audiences will experience a true cinematic event, in IMAX, theaters and on Netflix.

Written for the screen and directed by Gerwig, the origin story for Narnia is the first ever adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew — which was published May 2, 1955 and celebrates its 71st anniversary tomorrow — and pairs newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell with an all-star cast that includes Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith with Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep, and more. Lewis’ book series captured Gerwig’s imagination from a very young age, and she’s beyond thrilled to bring her singular vision to this beloved world. 

“Working with Netflix to bring this film to life has been extraordinary and IMAX continues to be an incredible partner. I cannot wait for people to see the film in theaters on February 12 and on Netflix on April 2,” says Greta Gerwig. 

The C.S. Lewis Company provided a statement as well:

“It’s incredibly moving to see how deeply Greta Gerwig has embraced C. S. Lewis’s world, and infused Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew with joy, heart, and genuine love for the story. We’re so excited for audiences everywhere to experience her vision — and to share the magic of Narnia with a whole new generation.”

In addition, Netflix released the first logline for the film:

Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig brings C. S. Lewis’s beloved story The Magician’s Nephew to the screen for the first time in a sweeping adventure that invites dreamers of all ages to experience the creation of Narnia.

AMC CEO Adam Aron posted on X

“At AMC, our cooperative efforts with Netflix picked up steam in the back half of 2025, and  have been immensely successful.  […] It should not be lost on anyone the significance of Netflix trying a real global release of a major film title.”

Reasons for Delay

“Following Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros,” Deadline writes, “sources say the streamer kicked about a wide theatrical release for  Narnia. Gerwig always wanted it. A member of the cast was injured, we hear, which delayed production for six weeks. Narnia would not make its Thanksgiving Imax date, so the decision was made to head to Feb. 12, 2027. I’m told this wasn’t a huddled talks decision that came together with exhibitors over CinemaCon. It was always Plan B.”

Here is everything we know about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

Look for an upcoming episode of Talking Beasts: The Narnia Podcast with reactions to this major development.

The post Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Moved to 2027 for Full Theatrical Release, a First for Netflix appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Two actors attached to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film project have been nominated for Gotham TV awards. View the full list here.

David McKenna (Digory), has been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series for his role in Lord of the Flies on Netflix. He will play the iconic role of Piggy in that series. This nomination makes David McKenna one of the youngest nominees in Gotham Television Awards’ short history.

Yet another actor attached to the project, Carey Mulligan, has been nominated for the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series award for her role in Beef on Netflix. Mulligan is believed to be playing Digory’s mother in the upcoming Narnia movie.

Here is everything we know about Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

The post David McKenna and Carey Mulligan Nominated for Gotham TV Awards appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Here are some highlights from the interview starting around the 7:26 mark:

A “Four-Quadrant” Family Film

Gordon described the film’s target audience as a “four-quadrant all audience movie that will be a delight for kids,” suggesting he expects the film to receive a PG rating, stating, “I’m sure it’ll be PG.”

Title of First Movie

It’s called Narnia. We’re not calling it ‘Chronicles’, but yes, it’s based on the books, The Chronicles of Narnia, the first book, which is The Magician’s Nephew. The first book that [C.S. Lewis] wrote is The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. Then he wrote a couple more, and then at some point he went back and did a book that sets up The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe, which is the book that tells the story of the creation of Narnia. That’s what we’re doing. So it’s first chronologically, but it’s not the first book he wrote.”

Cast Members

Gordon also confirmed select cast members, naming Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, and Carey Mulligan among the “names you would know”. He also had praise for younger cast members David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell:

We have two incredible kids whose names you won’t know, but they’re wonderful and they will delight and surprise the audience”

Production Status and AI

It’s really a beautiful film. We’re still seriously into post-production. We’ve got an enormous amount of visual effects shots in the movie. No AI […] We could have embraced it aggressively. We didn’t. I would say that there is still a question of when you’re screening a movie on IMAX, what level of detail you’re going to get. I’m not an AI expert. I have all kinds of mixed feelings about AI the way many people do. I wish it had never been invented, but it’s too bad for all of us. […] It’s terrifying.”

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew opens on IMAX screens on November 26th, before its Netflix debut on Christmas Day.

The post Narnia Producer Expects PG Rating, Discusses Cast and Avoiding AI appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Narnia’s sound mixer Nina Rice has spoken of the film’s “huge sonic scope” in a new interview with the Irish Film and Television Network (IFTN).

“I have recently wrapped on the new Narnia film, The Magician’s Nephew. It was a truly magical journey working with Greta Gerwig and the crew. Stepping into the scale of Narnia with Greta and the incredible cast has been a career highlight.  The sonic scope of this film is huge and working with Greta to capture the incredible performances is an honour. I am incredibly excited for the world to experience what we’ve created when it hits the cinemas.”

Nina Rice, Sound Mixer

In film-making, sound mixing is the post-production process whereby the audio captured on set is integrated with additional dialogue recorded in the studio, sound effects, and the music score, to create a single cohesive soundscape for the finished movie.

Rice’s comments would seem to suggest that her work on the film is already completed, and potentially hint that music-based scenes such as Aslan singing the world into creation will play a prominent part in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

Rice’s comments also echo those made by IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond who previously talked about the “unbelievably contemporary music” featured in the production, as well as comments made by composers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, who have previously hinted at a somewhat unconventional take on creating the score.

The post Narnia Sound Mixer Nina Rice on the Film’s ‘Huge Sonic Scope’ appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

One of the lingering questions surrounding Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew has been whether the production would retain the Narnia logo introduced during the Walden Media era, which has been used consistently for nearly two decades.

Based on a new photo from a source on set earlier this year at Cardington Studios, it now appears we may have our answer.

The logo features a stylized serif font with gently curved, storybook-inspired letterforms. It appears notably simpler than the Walden-era design, favouring a flatter and more minimal look.

It is worth noting that on-set logos are often temporary and do not always reflect the final marketing design, but they can offer an early sense of the logo’s overall style and design direction.

This would not be the first time a Narnia film has used different logo variations during production. Before the Walden-era design became the franchise’s default (even extending beyond the films to book covers, official websites, and other licensed material), an earlier version appeared in the opening credits of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and an even earlier design featured in newspaper ads.

What are your first impressions of the logo? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Early Look at New ‘Narnia’ Logo Revealed on Set appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

Host: You have a movie coming out soon–The Chronicles of Narnia. Can you tell me anything about that?

Mulligan: No [laughs]. I am almost afraid to say that I’m in it. It’s terrifying. I’ve never been in anything that’s been this secretive. It’s quite thrilling.

Mulligan is believed to be playing the role of Digory’s mother in the movie. Here is everything we know about Netflix’s Narnia.

The post Carey Mulligan on “Secretive” Narnia Production appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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!

The post Indication of Meryl Streep Being Present on Narnia Film Set appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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!

The post Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Film Featured “Over 150 Children” appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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?

The post Emma Mackey Confirms Meryl Streep Among Cast of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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?

The post Guinea Pig Used on ‘Wood Between the Worlds’ Set For Netflix’s Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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!

The post Oscar-Nominated Editor Andrew Weisblum Working on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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.

The post ‘Enola Holmes’ Actress Susan Wokoma Among New Cast Additions in Narnia appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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?

The post Watch: Digory Actor David McKenna Stars in New ‘Lord of the Flies’ Trailer appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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!

The post Netflix Facing Pressure to Expand Narnia’s Theatrical Release After Warner Bros Acquisition appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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.

The post Weta FX Working on Visual Effects for Netflix’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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.

The post Reflecting on the Top Stories of 2025 | Talking Beasts appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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

The post Jadis Chase Continues in January Cold as Netflix’s ‘Narnia’ Resumes Public Filming appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.

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!

The post Netflix Officially Announces ‘Narnia’ Producers for Gerwig’s Movie appeared first on NarniaWeb | Netflix's Narnia Movies.