Netflix’s ‘Narnia’ Begins Casting Search For Two Lead Child Actors
The upcoming Narnia film has reached a key milestone: casting is officially underway.
NarniaWeb has obtained a copy of the casting call for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation, confirming that the search for young actors has begun. Within the past week, UK children’s casting agencies and drama schools have received the notice, and some call-backs for roles are already taking place.
The production is looking for two children, a boy and a girl, to portray characters that are 10 or 11 years old. At this stage, the description does not specify any particular physical characteristics for the roles, such as height or hair color. Filming and rehearsals are scheduled to take place in the UK from June through Christmas 2025.
Another intriguing detail, not included on the initial casting call, is the reported use of the name ‘Frannie’ for one of the roles, though we believe this to be a codename.
Notably, the casting director for the film is Nina Gold, who previously worked on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) and has been nominated for a BAFTA this year in the ‘Best Casting’ category.
Many have speculated that The Magician’s Nephew could be the first story Gerwig adapts in her two-film deal with Netflix. According to C.S. Lewis’s timeline of Narnian history, Digory is 12 and Polly is 11 during the events of The Magician’s Nephew, which would align with the age range mentioned in the casting call.
However, Netflix has not officially announced which book will be adapted first.
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Oh my God….. It actually happening. I do not if I cry-balling cause it an actual Narnia movie coming or is that it might be Magician Nephew, which I am so on bored. Also, this might be a controversial take but if Greta Gerwig is doing like at least 2 movies , which sound like Netflix is testing the water before decide to go ahead with the rest of not. I assume the two books is Magician Nephew and Horse and His Boy because I remember in an interview when Greta Gerwig indicated each of the Narnia books, she empathized How each book structure in way where there a begin, middle, and end structure so if she adapting 2 at least those book are contained regarding worries of character aging as that might mess up certain factors as by that time the last 5 books having some character cameoing is kinda linked making it hard so buy after the determination of success of the first 2 books I mentioned above Netflix could either work with Greta or decide another person take on the handle, as Greta might pop in here and there just to give like a head up to the person who will finish the rest what to know before outlining, which is my guess. Either way I hope the casting is revealed
Looking more and more like they’re doing Magician’s Nephew… awesome to hear even more news!
Also, 664 days until release!
It’s got to be The Magician’s Nephew!
Magician’s Nephew all but confirmed. Charn, the creation, Uncle Andrew! Can’t wait.
C’mon, TMN! I’m listening to the FOTF AudioDrama on repeat for cinematic inspiration.
I for one believe this is going to be The Magician’s Nephew but I read someone’s comment that it could be The Silver Chair. Regardless, this is another step toward another Narnia adaptation soon!
They really need to just tell us what book they are doing. I don’t get why that’s a secret now that they have started casting.
The Silver Chair clearly!
😉
Hey, I can dream.
Oh my goodness yessss I’m so glad they’re looking for actual children
POLLY AND DIGORY!
Wishing all the best to the children who are being sent for auditions for these roles!
Just in case anyone was wondering why the casting call here is for ages 10/11, whereas in the Magician’s Nephew book it’s 11/12…. you have to remember that the kids cast now will be 6 months older by the time they start shooting, and nearly a full year older by the time they finish shooting, so it should all even itself out by the end.
@Icarus, I don’t actually remember the characters’ ages being specified in the book.
In the book universe I mean (per the CS Lewis timeline)
It’s Polly and Digory! Watch, if there is a call for a Guinea pig, it’s TMN for sure!
Would the guinea pig be a leading character? (UK English doesn’t use ‘lead’) After all, it did get into the Wood Between The Worlds first!
I’m deeply hype for the possibility of the Magician’s Nephew… though we can’t eliminate the possibility of The Horse and His Boy. I think both would be excellent jumping off points for the franchise.
@Kavanaugh, would you care to explain why you think The Horse and his Boy would be a good jumping off point for a new Narnia series? It’s one of my favorite books but I don’t think it makes much sense to start out with that story since it’s so atypical for The Chronicles of Narnia.
Well, Gold gave the world Will Poulter as Eustace – whom many Narnia fans liked in the role. Isn’t it a weird coincidence, though? That the same casting director for the least favoured Narnia movie is doing the new one?
I must say though, that I really like the casting of Laura Brent as Ramandu’s daughter. She had such a graceful, noble air about her. And the little who played Gael did a great job too.
Nina Gold is absolutely brilliant
She cast Game Of Thrones, The Crown, Andor, Conclave and Chernobyl
The cinematographer is the person I’m most curious of, that, in my opinion is the most important hire
Linus Sandgren seems to be busy
Hoyta van hoytema seems unlikely
Rodriego Prieto might be waiting to shoot a film with Martin Scorsese
Rodger Deakins seems unlikely too
Yorick Le Saux who shot Little women is shooting a film now so….
Since imax cameras are going to be used I’m curious who
*If anyone has any cool suggestions, feel free to spit ball
-_-
Oooh, fantastic news! Hmm, so most here appear to have acknowledged it sounds a lot like MN! Can’t wait for more news but – I’ve just got to say, I’m so excited to see that we are very clearly the closest we’ve been to a Narnia film since VDT was released! YAY!!
Please please plesse keep to the books and characters! Then this will be worth all of my time!
@Impending Doom , finally found out about “rock and roll”
Listen to The Big Picture podcast Dec 23 2019 ‘Why Little Women matters!’ Time mark 1 hour 28 minute mark , I think Amy used Greta Gerwig’s verbiage
Hope that averts a little bit of your fears, also turns out I was wrong, Amy wasn’t being sarcastic or flippant or avoiding the question but being truthful, just not in the way anyone may have thought precisely .
https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/the-big-picture/id1439252196?i=1000460539670
Very cool find @Alex Anar!
Currently reading Lion to my 5th and 6th graders (such a good book for teaching literary elements and they LOVE it as much as I do!) and they are SO EXCITED about the Netflix movies! And I’m over the moon listening to my 10 and 11 year olds passionately debating all things Narnia cinema!
So does this mean Greta Gerwig is going to do The Magician’s Nephew? And will it be the first film in the new franchise? I’m sure all will be revealed in time.
Frannie is Polly, right? I can’t believe we’ll finally be seeing her and Digory on the big screen!
My son is an amazing actor/singer and is the main part for all the school plays…and has had some acting classes as well. He is 13.
great explainer for The Magicians Nephew here
https://youtu.be/EzoS1zAiSwQ
I hope it’s Silver Chair rather than Magician’s Nephew. I love both, but MN is a prequel; you should get to know Narnia before you learn its creation story or it just doesn’t hit the same emotional notes.
Hard to believe this is really happening. I can remember the days of old when the big scary m-word (moratorium) became a part of my vocabulary.
I suppose starting fresh with Magician’s Nephew would make sense given just how many adaptations begin with LWW.
Given that Gerwig has only ever said she was filming “the first” book, the call for two young children basically confirms The Magician’s Nephew. I don’t see how they would begin with Silver Chair and then find a way to go back in time with Eustace for Dawn Treader.
@Icarus there was another mention of “ rock and roll” when referring to Yorick Le Saux ( cinematographer of Little Women at Santa Barbara International Film Festival ) when she says “he is not afraid of beauty and he is not afraid of rock and roll”
https://youtu.be/3–_qcpMFUE?si=OScFrdeqwXvPqsQc&t=874