Daisy Ridley Among Stars Vying for Narnia Role
With the start of filming on Narnia less than 5 months away, director Greta Gerwig is currently busy behind-the-scenes assembling the cast for her movie, with the help of Casting Director Nina Gold, who was spotted this weekend deep in conversation with talent agent Claire Maroussas from Independent Talent Group at a BAFTA Awards pre-party in London.
But whilst Gold’s lips remain firmly sealed, the added spotlight that Gerwig’s own star power brings to a project like Narnia means that many of Hollywood’s top stars are making no secret of their desire to work with the director on her next project.
In a recent interview with Collider, Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley said that she would love to work with the director, and mentioned that she’d specifically asked if she could be in Narnia. However she also felt that any such role had likely already gone to another actress frequently associated with Greta Gerwig – the four time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan.
Ronan has also made no secret of her desire to work on Narnia, discussing the prospect on the Jimmy Kimmel Show back in October as well as in previous interviews earlier in the production process.
Other stars who’ve also been vocal in their desire to work with Greta Gerwig recently include current BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated actress Selena Gomez, 2015 Academy Award winning actress Brie Larson, and 2010 Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman.
Although its not quite clear what roles will even be available in Netflix’s Narnia project right now, Greta Gerwig will certainly not be struggling for options when she does come to make her picks,
With any luck we should know for certain in a few weeks, so keep a firm eye on NarniaWeb for all the latest casting news.
See, even she thinks so. Ronan is perfect. Ronan fits jadis description as a young girl, when she goes to london the people call her misses and young lady. Not to mention perfect height.
100% Saosrie Ronan, No Doubt in my mind, she is absolutely perfect for the role. but Ridley would make a good Helen the cabdriver’s wife.
Let’s hope Timothy Dalton is Aslan. With Ronan and Dalton as Alan and Jadis it would be a dream cast.
It would be interesting to see Ridley in a villainous role. I think she might be able to do it quite well. It also might be good for her to have something really high-profile aside from Star Wars.
I’m also intrigued by Natalie Portman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her play a villain either, so that could be interesting. Not sure if she can do the necessary British accent, though.
Almost all of those actors mentioned are young adult female actresses! Do the Narnia books appeal to that group especially? Or are people in their demographic more likely to be asked in interviews what movies they want to be cast in? Or do they have this desire because they admire Gerwig because she is a positive and strong female filmmaker these days?
It’s hard to think of many Narnia characters in their demographics! The ones that come to mind in the LWW are Jadis, Mrs Macready, the Professor’s maids, adult Susan and Lucy… and voice acting for Mrs Beaver etc.
And for MN: Digory’s mother, aunt and their maid/s, Jadis and her sister, and Helen.
So after writing that list, there might actually be enough roles for all these actresses if they are happy with small roles 🙂
The link in this article on the text “spotted this weekend” about Nina Gold… that’s a weird and fun kind of article. I didn’t realise there would be a journalist with a camera roving around a Hollywood elites party, with their permission to report on it later!
@JonathanParavel – I think in this instance it’s that all these actresses want to work with Greta Gerwig first and foremost, and Narnia then as a byproduct of that (although only the first two have been specific in mentioning Narnia).
Either way, it’s such a great position for the project to be in, having all of Hollywood’s top stars falling over themselves for the chance to be in it and work with Greta Gerwig.
I think part of that is just because she’s a great director and stars want to work with the top directors, but in terms of the specific demographic of these actresses, I think she is also somewhat of a positive role-model to many actresses of their generation working within the community.
She also seems to be just a really friendly director to work with and seems to form very strong lasting bonds with her colleagues. For example, as well as being good friends with Saoirse, she also seems to be very close with Brie Larson (based on their interactions at various award shows) and has a close history with Natalie Portman too.
“I was hoping for something a little more original” than Daisy Ridley or Natalie Portman.
I think the Witch should be older and more cruel seeming than Saoirse Ronan or Daisy Ridley. Natalie Portman is closer to the age and character of the Queen, but she is too famous and would not dissolve into the character. Mia Wasikowska would be my choice, but I can understand the Elizabeth Debicki fans as well.
@Harry Schiller, I’m a bit stuck on this age thing. Why should the witch seem older the Saoirse Ronan? I always thought she looks really young in MN and then, once she eats the apple, she remains young, no? So wouldn’t Natalie Portman even look too old? And the other three you suggest are roughly the same age within a five year span so I don’t really think there’s a big difference here.
Daisy Ridley would be great as the Lamp-post! :)))))