In July of 2023, the director of the popular Barbie movie, Greta Gerwig, was confirmed as director of the upcoming Netflix adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ notable Chronicles of Narnia series. She’s set to direct at least two adaptations in the series. While Gerwig’s vision is still under wraps, here’s what we know so far.
Heading Back to Narnia
For those of you unfamiliar with the Narnian world, the seven-book series kicks off with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, where we see siblings Peter, Susan, Ed, and Lucy Pevensie thrust into a parallel world of wonder through a wardrobe. During World War II, the children are shipped off to a safer shelter where the youngest Pevensie, Lucy, discovers the secret world of Narnia tucked inside an innocuous coat closet. In this other world, the battle between good and evil is hard-fought, as Lucy and her siblings are thrown into the midst of a different kind of war that will forever change the way they see their own realities inside and outside the wardrobe.
Why Gerwig’s the Chosen One
It seems Gerwig was chosen for a particular reason that connects her to author C.S. Lewis — their shared religious background. It’s no secret that the books are Christian-based and that Lewis was heavily influenced by his Christian beliefs. So, the fact that Gerwig herself grew up Christian seems fitting, at least, according to Netflix’s film chief, Scott Stuber. In an interview with Variety, Stuber says of Gerwig:
“[Gerwig] grew up in a Christian background. The C.S. Lewis books are very much based in Christianity. And so, we just started talking about it.”
Chief of Film Scott Stuber, Variety
Stuber also notes that he and Gerwig have been friends for some time and have already made at least three films together. Speaking fondly of the director, Stuber says, “she’s just an incredible talent.” Scott adds that Greta and the Netflix team do plan to go beyond the first book and movie, and dive into the entire world of Narnia.
“Obviously, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is kind of the preeminent one, but there’s such an interesting narrative form [to the Narnia series] if you read all of them. And so that’s what she’s working on now with [producer] Amy Pascal and Mark Gordon and they’re trying to figure out how they can break the whole arc of all of it.”
Chief of Film Scott Stuber, Variety
Who Will Be Starring in the New Adaptation?
While fans try to imagine what the Narnian world will entail, more buzz circulates around who will star in the Netflix films. Names like Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi as the eldest Peter have floated around on Twitter, but it has been debunked as nothing more than a rumor. Other names such as Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones and Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things as Susan and Lucy have also been floated around by fans. Though, as of now, no casting announcements have been made. It is possible that the original cast could reprise their roles, including all four Pevensie siblings and Tilda Swinton as the White Witch, a dream many fans would more than love to see come true.
With all this exciting news, many fans are certainly itching to know when the first films will be released on the streaming platform. Unfortunately, for now, there is no official release date, but according to Stuber, filming for the first movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is set to begin sometime this new year. For now, we wait patiently for our portal to open and carry us back to the land of Mr. Tumnus, the White Witch, and the great lion, Aslan.
For more on The Chronicles of Narnia, click here. For more information on Greta Gerwig, click here and here.
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