‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’: Everything We Know About Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Movie

2025 marks the seventh anniversary of Netflix’s first announcement that it had acquired the rights to adapt new Chronicles of Narnia movies and series. In 2026, the first movie, helmed by Oscar-winning director Greta Gerwig, will be released in theaters and on Netflix. Here’s the latest on everything we know about the Netflix adaptations now in production —why it’s taken so long, the confirmed cast, and much more. 

Note: This article is live, meaning we’ll keep it updated with the latest information as we learn more.  

What are The Chronicles of Narnia?

Let’s start with the basics. The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy series by the famed author C.S. Lewis, published in the 1950s. The series transports us to the fictional realm of Narnia. Seven books were published in total under the Chronicles of Narnia banner, with those being:

• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Published in 1950
• Prince Capsian – 1951
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – 1952
• The Silver Chair – 1953
• The Horse and His Boy – 1954
• The Magician’s Nephew – 1955
• The Last Battle – 1956

Over the years, the series has seen numerous adaptations, including a BBC TV series, a radio series, and, of course, the Walt Disney-distributed movies.

The first of the Disney movies was released in 2005, when it collaborated with Walden Media and released the first movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The second movie was released in 2008, adapting Prince Caspian w,ith the third movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, released two years later (this time distributed by 20th Century Fox) and released in 2010. A fourth movie, based on The Silver Chair, was planned but never materialized.

The Chronicles of Narnia book by C. S. Lewis. – Picture Credit: Shutterstock

How and when Netflix scored the Narnia franchise

The news of Netflix teaming up with The C.S. Lewis Company dropped back in October 2018. At the time, Netflix struck a “multi-year deal,” whereby it would have multiple film and series projects on the go, all based on the books of Narnia. Alongside the original announcement, Ted Sarandos, the then-chief content officer and now the co-CEO of Netflix, said:

“C.S. Lewis’s beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world. Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come.”

It was also reiterated multiple times that Netflix would be adapting Narnia into a Universe, positioning the series to compete with the likes of Game of Thrones and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit for a more family-oriented audience.

Picture: Walt Disney Pictures

The original press release remains live on the Narnia Facebook page and on Netflix’s company blog, but here are the main lines:

“Netflix will develop new series and film projects based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved The Chronicles of Narnia series. Under the terms of a multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix will develop classic stories from across the Narnia universe into series and films for its members worldwide.

All series and films produced through the deal will be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for series and as producers for features.”

The most important aspect of the Netflix deal, which makes it more unique than before, is its access to all seven books. This means that some of the later books, which have never been adapted before, could be coming to Netflix, a move that previous license owners haven’t been able to achieve. At the time, Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber will be involved with most of the upcoming Netflix Narnia projects.

History of the Development of Narnia at Netflix

So, Netflix acquired the rights in 2018; what’s taken so long? Let’s review the timeline:

2019 – Matthew Aldrich Becomes Architect of Narnia’s Universe

Months after waiting for more information on Narnia on Netflix, we finally got some news on June 12th, 2019. That news was that Matthew Aldrich would serve as the “creative architect” of the Netflix franchise.

The news came that the co-writer for Disney Pixar’s Coco, a double Oscar-winning movie, will work on Narnia. The press release said:

“Netflix has announced that Matthew Aldrich has come on board to oversee the development and creative live-action adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved The Chronicles of Narnia series. All series and films produced through the deal will be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for series and as producers for features.”

Matthew Aldrich and his projects: Coco, Spinning Man, and Lightyear – Credits: Disney / Lionsgate

2020 – All quiet on development with dribs of information

In January 2020, Narniaweb posted that Douglas Gresham (stepson of C. S. Lewis) had little knowledge of where Netflix is at with production.

Jordan Raynor: What is the latest on this partnership between Netflix and the C. S. Lewis Company?

Douglas Gresham: Yeah, to be honest, I can’t tell you very much at all. We did the deal quite some months ago and I haven’t heard a word since. I mean, I am listed as the producer, but I’ve heard no word on what they plan to do or how they plan to do it or when they plan to do it for that matter. Looking at things, I don’t know whether Netflix is ready to rock ‘n roll on this or not, but we will find out in due course.

~2020-2021 – Matthew Aldrich Splits From Netflix

In a podcast released in September 2024, Alrdich shared that he had only worked with Netflix on Narnia for about a year and a half before departing because of “creative differences,” comparing the venture to “uphill sledding.”

Going on further, Aldrich said, “I had a very specific idea about what I wanted to do with the Narnia material. I had laid out for them a sort of strategy of film and series to adapt the seven books in a way that was both respectful and not precious, and try to update them in some fun ways. Ultimately, that’s not the direction Netflix wanted to go.”

2021 – A mention from Netflix’s then head of film, but still quiet.

In January 2021, Scott Stuber, who at the time headed Netflix’s film division, told the New York Times that Narnia was among the projects predicted to release “beyond 2021,” meaning that although we might hear of projects this year, we’re not expecting the release of any.

2022 – Greta Gerwig eyed for movies + series still in development

In early 2022, we spotted that Ted Biaselli, a network executive at Netflix who is a “Director of Original Series,” lists Narnia in his LinkedIn bio at the time (Narnia has since been removed), reading:

“Spearheaded the formation of the 4-quad Family Programming slate including development and production of Netflix Original Series Fuller House, Haters Back Off, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lost in Space, The Umbrella Academy, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Raising Dion and Green Eggs and Ham, Sweet Tooth and the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia.”

Picture: Getty Images

Then, in late 2022, we got the big news. We exclusively reported in November 2022 that Netflix was eying director Greta Gerwig to direct two movies. The year after that announcement came the sensation of Barbie, which grossed over a billion dollars at the box office. Before that, Gerwig had worked as an actress, director, and writer on over 40 projects, including Lady Bird, Mistress America, Frances Ha, and Little Women.

2023 – Greta Gerwig Confirmed To Direct

Our scoop was confirmed in July 2023 in a profile on the toy manufacturer Mattel, where The New Yorker confirmed that Greta Gerwig was on board to direct at least two movies for Netflix.

Around the time of the release of Barbie, Gerwig spoke about the upcoming Netflix movies for the first time, saying she was “terrified” of them. She told GamesRadar:

“I haven’t even really started wrapping my arms around it. But I’m properly scared of it, which feels like a good place to start. I think when I’m scared, it’s always a good sign. Maybe when I stop being scared, it’ll be like, ‘Okay. Maybe I shouldn’t do that one.’ No, I’m terrified of it. It’s extraordinary. And so we’ll see, I don’t know.”

In November 2023, Scott Stuber revealed to Variety that Amy Pascal (who worked with Gerwig on Little Women) would be a producer alongside Mark Gordon. Speaking about why Gerwig is perfect as the director, Stuber said:

“[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.”

Collider also spoke to Scott Stuber in November 2023 about acquiring Narnia and Gerwig’s involvement with the upcoming movies. They somehow managed to decipher from his thin comments that filming would start in 2024. However, this has turned out not to be the case.

Scott Stuber and Ted Sarandos – Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage

2024 – To IMAX or Not To IMAX and Non-Stop Rumors – 2026 Christmas Release

Although production never got underway in 2024, the rumor mill surrounding the development of Greta Gerwig’s first movie went into high gear.

Much of the reporting surrounding the movie revolved around how Netflix would be releasing it. Beyond very limited theatrical releases for its award contenders, Netflix has never given its movies broad theatrical slates, except for Knives Out 2. Numerous reports from the Hollywood trades, plus contributions from Puck and Bloomberg, suggest that Netflix is in talks with IMAX to get the movie into select theaters from Thanksgiving 2026, with an expected Christmas Netflix release. The movie will be shown in over 2,000 theaters worldwide. Bloomberg reports that the budget for the upcoming Gerwig Narnia movie “will almost certainly exceed $200 million.”

Beyond the IMAX question, rumors have been flooding in about production starts. We heard (incorrectly) that the movie was eying an August start in London, and more recent production dates suggested the movie would start filming in January 2025 in New Zealand. None of those are correct, with no production start penciled in, although it would need to begin filming in 2025 for its planned Christmas 2026 release.

Rumors were also plentiful throughout 2024, including that Gerwig was reportedly exiting the project, citing the director’s adamant stance on a theatrical release. That did not happen.

2025 – Production Finally Begins

In an interview with Deadline, producer Amy Pascal revealed some new details about the upcoming production. She expressed that this version will have a “very new take” and intriguingly described it as “all about rock and roll.” The producer emphasized Greta Gerwig’s impressive track record and unique vision, confirming that they are scheduled to begin shooting in July. However, we’ve since heard that the movie aims for a late June start with a planned wrap for Christmas.

Shortly before this interview, a Times article revealed that Shepperton Studios, located just outside London and home to some big Netflix Originals, will be filming the home of the movies in addition to

Where will The Chronicles of Narnia on Netflix start?

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the natural starting point for Narnia, given that it’s the first book and where Disney chose to start, but that won’t be where Netflix begins… 

Actor Jason Isaacs, in a feature in the news outlet called The Week in November 2024, seemed to reveal that Netflix’s starting place will be The Magician’s Nephew.  The actor said, “I loved all the Narnia books as a kid. When Peter was told he wouldn’t be coming back, I understood something devastating about mortality. I picked [The Magician’s Nephew] because Greta Gerwig is about to make a film of it, which I can’t wait to see.”

Separately, we’ve confirmed with a source that The Magician’s Nephew will be the starting place, and the aforementioned casting rumor fits into that too. In The Magician’s Nephew, Jadis is introduced as a powerful and ambitious sorceress from another world, whose actions set the events in motion that lead to her infamous role in Narnia. Later, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, she is recognized by her title as the White Witch, ruling over Narnia with a cold and tyrannical grip. The title we’re hearing is currently being used for the project is Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

In November 2023, in the Variety piece mentioned above, then-head of film at Netflix, Scott Stuber, suggested that the movies may not be adapted in order, saying:

“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.”

Of course, major changes are coming in Netflix’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, with it set in 1955 instead of the Victorian era, as the book is set.

As a reminder of the order Netflix could choose to take, here are the books in the so-called “Harper Collins” order:

• The Magician’s Nephew
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• The Horse and His Boy
• Prince Caspian
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Last Battle

In chronological order, however, the order is as follows:

• The Lion, the Witc,h and the Wardrobe
• Prince Caspian
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Horse and His Boy
• The Magician’s Nephew
• The Last Battle

Who is in the cast for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew?

As of September 2025, we have several confirmed cast members attached to the project, although it is worth noting that Netflix has not yet confirmed any of these. Let’s break them down!

In March 2025, we got word that Daniel Craig (James Bond, Knives Out) was being considered for the role of Uncle Andrew Ketterley.

That was followed up in early April with a report from Nexus Point News (with subsequent confirmations from more prominent outlets shortly afterward) that Meryl Streep was being considered for the role of Aslan.

In April 2025, following rumors that Charlie XCX would be filling the role of the White Witch, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Emma Mackey (Sex Education) would be occupying the role.

Carey Mulligan was next to be in talks for a major role back in May 2025, with that role now confirmed to be for Mabel Kirke, the sick mother of Digory.

Then, as filming began, we broke the news that newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell had been cast as the two main young leads: Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer.

Other attached names so far in unknown roles or smaller roles include Denise Gough (Andor), who is confirmed for a role involving interactions with children. We first reported that Tom Bonington (Hijack, Black Ops) had been cast as Mr. Potts.

Also part of the cast includes:

• Mark James (Living, Biff & Chip)
• Vincent Kelly (The Immortal Man)
• Molly Harding (Motu) as Kensington Street Child
• David Stoller (The Boys in the Boat) as Medic
• Ava Jager as Polly’s sister, called Violet.

Nina Gold and Francine Maisler are behind the casting for the film.

Previously Rumored Names Attached

Previously rumored castings included World of Reel, which has long insisted that frequent collaborator Saoirse Ronan is eyed for a role, with Louis Patridge being a high-profile attachment early on. However, we quickly confirmed that was not the case.

In March 2025, The Hollywood Reporter suggested that recent Oscar winner Mikey Madison is being considered for a role but wasn’t in active talks. Deadline followed that up in March 2025, suggesting Charlie XCX may be up for the role of Jadis, the White Witch. Deadline’s report states she’s among the top choices, meaning it was by no means a done deal.

Where is Netflix’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew in Production? Who else is involved?

In mid-August, filming began on the new production in London, England, with some scenes taking place near Bank Station and the Royal Exchange, and filming returned to London multiple times throughout August and September, with the production spotted filming by the Tower of London among other places.

Picture Credit: UnBoxPHD / SplashNews.com

Additional filming in public has been spotted in Bradford and Manchester. For the most part, though, filming for the movie is taking place out of view of the public at Shepperton Studios, just outside London. Filming is expected to run through at least the end of 2025, with a January 2026 wrap expected.

Beyond Greta Gerwig’s directing duties, it has been confirmed that Seamus McGarvey has been tapped to serve as director of photography on the new project. Previous projects include Atonement, The Avengers, Anna Karenina, and Godzilla. Mark Ronson, the award-winning musician, confirmed on the TODAY show that he’ll be working on the new project.

Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, Amy Pascal, and Vincent Sieber are confirmed for producer credits.

We can also report that John Sorapure will serve as Second Unit Director & Second Unit Director of Photography. Sorapure will lead what’s called the second unit — a separate crew that handles scenes or shots that don’t require the main actors or director. Think of action sequences, establishing shots (like a drone flying over a city), inserts (close-ups of props or hands), or background footage. Their job is to match the tone, visual style, and pacing of the main unit so that everything feels seamless in the final edit. Prior credits include Paddington in Peru, Project Hail Mary (2026), Wonka, and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.

That’s all we know so far. There’s a lot to be announced, a lot to be excited about, and a lot to be learned. We’ll be there every step of the way to see what’s in store for Narnia on Netflix.

Are you excited about Narnia on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.