Netflix’s Narnia Movie Is One Year Away’and Fans Are Split Between Optimism and Concern
Anticipation is slowly building for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, but fans have thoughts…
Netflix’s long-awaited Narnia universe is officially on the horizon. Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Little Women) is directing The Magician’s Nephew, which will serve as the launch point for the streamer’s new fantasy franchise, eight years after Netflix first announced it was delving into the world of C.S. Lewis. It’s currently set to debut in theaters over Thanksgiving 2026, with a planned Christmas streaming release.
Before we dive into why some fans feel the way they do, let’s quickly recap what we know so far.
David McKenna leads the cast as Digory Kirke, joined by Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer. Daniel Craig plays the scheming Uncle Andrew, while Emma Mackey takes on the formidable Queen Jadis. Carey Mulligan appears as Mabel Kirke, and Denise Gough has also been cast in an undisclosed role.
Behind the camera, Netflix has assembled a roster of A-list department heads — from production designer James Chinlund (The Batman, The Avengers) to cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (Atonement, Godzilla). Jacqueline Durran handles costumes after acclaimed turns on Little Women and 1917, with Ivana Primorac overseeing hair and makeup and Mark Ronson composing the score. Rounding out the team are set decorator Lee Sandales, creature-effects legend Neal Scanlan, and casting directors Nina Gold and Francine Maiser.
Filming picked up in London this August under the codename Ordinary Time, with several shoots spotted across the UK, including in Bradford and Manchester. For the most part, however, the film is shot out of the way of prying eyes at Shepperton Studios.
How are fans feeling about the movie one year away from release?
When it comes to true fans of the books and the franchise, you can’t do much better than NarniaWeb, which has tracked the property for over 20 years at this point, dating back to reporting on the original Disney entries.
When we caught up with Brian Corbin (who goes by Glumpuddle), NarniaWeb.com Manager and host of Talking Beasts: The Narnia Podcast, over the summer, he told us: “My initial excitement is now mixed with a certain anxiety, but it is still very early in the process. I am eagerly awaiting more context and information, and hope that Greta Gerwig is able to bring her personal touch to Narnia while remaining true to the essence of the books that have touched my life.”
Corbin further added, “Around the Narnia community, there is no doubt that early leaks have dampened the anticipation. The majority of our readers feel pessimistic, with many expressing that they will not see the film unless concerns about the character of Aslan are alleviated. After years of dreaming about seeing The Magician’s Nephew come to life on screen, many fans are mourning that the world of the story and the central character may be fundamentally different.”
Have those sentiments shifted amongst the NarniaWeb team and community? Not really. They’re still incredibly apprehensive about many aspects, while some they air with a side of cautious optimism, as evidenced by their latest podcast episode of Talking Beasts:
Meryl Streep as Aslan: Inspired, Absurd, or Both?
What are the main bones of contention? Let’s start with the one that most people have been the loudest about…
When reports surfaced that Meryl Streep had been cast as Aslan, the internet collectively raised an eyebrow. Could one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses really be playing the mighty lion of Narnia? Of course, Netflix hasn’t confirmed this casting, and Deadline has yet to follow up with any additional confirmation.
This is easily the story that’s caused the most controversy thus far, and you may recall that upon its April announcement, we published an article about it.
Why is it so controversial? Well, Aslan has always been portrayed as male, and the change to a female actress is a significant departure from the source material. The Disney movies arguably did a terrific job of interpreting Aslan, hiring Liam Neeson for what is now one of his most iconic roles.
For some fans, it’s a stroke of genius. Streep’s legendary gravitas could bring a unique, almost divine presence to Aslan, one that transcends gender and traditional casting. If handled creatively (for example, using her voice in a stylized or symbolic way), it might even deepen the character’s mystical aura. Still, it’ll all come down to execution (if the casting news is even true!).
The 1955 Time Shift: A Small Change or a Major Sacrifice?
In C.S. Lewis’s original The Magician’s Nephew, the story unfolds in Victorian London, around 1900, whereas from set leaks, casting calls, and building plans thus far, we know Gerwig’s adaptation will dramatically shift the timeline forward more than half a century to 1955, a choice that has deeply divided fans.
Supporters say the change could modernize the setting without hurting the story. Purists, however, see this as a major tonal loss. The Victorian backdrop wasn’t just set dressing; it shaped the book’s moral tone and was fundamental to the story and a core part of its DNA. Others note that the setting was deeply personal for Lewis. The original story drew heavily from his own childhood, including the death of his mother and his early boarding school years.
If I were to mount a defense for Netflix here, and I can do it relatively easily, it’d be that Netflix needs to do as much as possible to separate its adaptations from the Disney ones that have come before it. We’ve seen with reboots and continuations before that they’re closely compared with their predecessors, and while the time shift is dramatic, it does go some way in creating a fresh feeling. Within Narnia itself, the timeshift isn’t as pronounced, but for the real-world parts, a time shift does a good job at distinguishing the world apart.
Both of these contention points really come down to a frequent criticism of adaptations: where is the right balance between a faithful adaptation and a creative reimagining?
Our view? Greta Gerwig’s track record should speak for itself. Over the years, the Oscar-nominated director has made a name for herself by bringing some of the biggest franchises and famous literary works to life with a fresh lens, with almost all her projects earning critical acclaim. The director has expressed in interviews how daunting the challenge has been, but until we’ve seen the final product, it’s impossible to judge.
Why is Netflix being so secretive about Narnia?
One year out, we’ve got nothing from Netflix on the movie. I really do mean nothing literally, too.
In the history of covering Netflix, I’ve never seen the streamer so tight-lipped about a project. It’s not the only upcoming project either. On Netflix’s 2026 slate that they’ve essentially been completely radio silent on: David Fincher’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follow-up, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, and Narnia.
Beyond questions put to those connected to the show or its partners, like the IMAX head, plus reports from the likes of us here at What’s on Netflix, NarniaWeb, and the Hollywood trades such as Deadline or Puck, Netflix hasn’t been involved in any piece and refuses to comment or confirm anything. It hasn’t issued a single press release or even posted about it on social. Not even the fact that it even exists beyond two posts on its about Netflix blog (man, I miss that site rather than the sugar-glazed press release spins that get put out by former journalists on TUDUM, but I digress) in 2018 announcing it’s working on the project and 2019 announcing the architect. True radio silence.
Some see this radio silence as an intentional marketing move. Another theory is that others think it gives Greta Gerwig the space and freedom she needs to craft her vision without unnecessary marketing distractions, as the cameras are still rolling and the world is being shaped.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is the first of two movies we initially scooped that Greta Gerwig was attached to. Our sources indicated at the time that the films could shoot relatively close to each other, but that was three years ago, so plans have no doubt evolved. The latest intel/rumor suggests a second Narnia movie could go into production in Q4 2026, which would be right around the time Netflix ramps up marketing and gets the first movie ready for release.
When could we get our first glimpse of Narnia? Nothing is set in stone yet, but we do know that Next on Netflix will return (an annual event where Netflix previews its slate for the upcoming year) in 2026. While we’re not expecting it to be the truly global extravaganza we got last year, it would be an opportune time for a tease (heck, even a name drop would be nice at this point) that it’s coming up. We should note that most Next on Netflix events take place in late January or early February, which would be right around the time the Narnia movie wraps… Stay tuned.