Netflix Considering Thanksgiving 2026 Release for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Movie

Narnia may be returning to the big screen in 2026!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Writer/Director Greta Gerwig is making a case for debuting her Chronicles of Narnia adaptation on IMAX screens in Thanksgiving 2026 before it starts streaming on Netflix the following Christmas.

But, for now, there are just “preliminary talks.”

It was Gerwig herself, according to the report, who approached IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. When asked to confirm talks between IMAX and Netflix, Gelfond said:

“We’ve tried different models in the past, whether it’s an early release or exclusive content. I won’t comment on that specific story in any way, but you know we’re always looking for new approaches to eventsize content.”

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond

As negotiations proceed, there are tensions that will need to be sorted out:

Imax stock saw a bump Tuesday upon news of the talks between Imax and Netflix, where co-CEO Ted Sarandos has long been unwilling to abide by a traditional theatrical window, much to the frustration of filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese. Netflix broke its own precedent when giving Scorsese’s The Irishman an exclusive release, but it still wasn’t long enough (Netflix began experimenting a year earlier with Roma).

The Hollywood Reporter

Read the full report

15 Responses

  1. Samuel says:

    This is so exciting!! All of these news snippets and speculations are getting more frequent! If this is true, 2026 is shaping up to be a very juicy year indeed! 🙂 I will be forever hoping James Newton Howard scores the soundtrack for Narnia. He’s got a great handle on fantasy and building atmosphere. I doubt Harry-Gregson Williams will return but who knows?

  2. Impending Doom says:

    The countdown is coming soon!!

  3. Cool! 🙂 can’t wait to see it! And to find out which book!

  4. Silvia A says:

    So Netflix is actually considering this? That’s amazing to hear. This is good news for Greta and will be great news for Narnia!

  5. Bolton says:

    LET’S GO! Really hope this can be worked out and Narnia given the big screen experience it deserves.

  6. commonlogic says:

    That quote from Imax’s CEO is all but confirmation of the talks happening, though I guess it’s possible it’s false and he simply didn’t comment on the report because their stock went up when the news came out.

    But when there’s smoke, there’s fire!

  7. WhiteStag says:

    It sounds like most of the key players here want this to happen in some form.
    Is there just enough will from all the stakeholders to push it over the line?

    Announcement soon, please… I’m on the edge of my seat!

  8. Cleander says:

    Getting a release date confirmed would be awesome!
    Especially because it would mean the return of… THE GREAT COUNTDOWN!

  9. Col Klink says:

    Wow! A specific release date from the people making the movies! OK, it’s a tentative one but more than we’ve had for a long time.

  10. decarus says:

    I am just so worried about how bad this is going to be. I just think the problems now with how movies are made, that they just can’t make a good Narnia right now. They just aren’t going to have four English children from the 40s. They are going to do all the things that make tv so awful now.

  11. J says:

    So I’m guessing this movie will be an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew. That makes sense because they don’t have to make the follow-up Narnia films right away (1-2 years).

    They can take their time prepping those films, with the next film arriving at the turn of the next decade. After that, one film per every 1-2 years.

    If the first movie does well, full steam ahead on the next 6 stories. If it’s not received well, we’ll, let’s hope that it’s a good movie.

    Speaking of movies, I still think it would be a good idea for them to make movies out of all the Narnia books that have never gotten a movie adaptation (MN, HHB, MN & LB). The other three (LWW, PC & VDT) could instead be made into a miniseries trilogy.

    I’m also open to ideas about individual episodes about Narnia being made that are not direct adaptations of the books, but directly inspired by Lewis’ writing.

  12. Col Klink says:

    @J

    “…individual episodes about Narnia being made that are not direct adaptations of the books, but directly inspired by Lewis’ writing.”

    Could you give a hypothetical example please? Thanks.

  13. Anna says:

    Interesting development… I had thought theatres would be off the table. Regardless of how negotiations turn out, I just the films still happen.

  14. HTP says:

    Finally!

  15. Angie says:

    Wonderful! I am so looking forward to this! *pulls out cape that was made to wear to the first Narnia movie in 2005* Hopefully this will happen! By the way, if Douglas or any of the Gresham family is reading this, happy birthday today :-). Still praying for all of you!