Netflix's Narnia Movies: What We Know

Netflix’s Narnia Movies: What We Know

Updated: December 13th, 2024

Netflix is developing new live-action adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. This page will be updated regularly with the latest information.

The Director

Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women, Barbie) is set to write and direct at least two Narnia movies for Netflix.

Unfamiliar with Gerwig? Here is what you should know.

I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia, I loved Narnia so much as a child. As an adult, C.S. Lewis is a thinker and a writer. I’m intimidated by doing this. It’s something that feels like a worthy thing to be intimidated by. … As a non-British person, I feel a particular sense of wanting to do it correctly… it’s like when Americans do Shakespeare, there’s a slight feeling of reverence and as if maybe we should treat it with extra care. It is not our countryman.”
Greta Gerwig (Jan. 2024)

Filming

Producer Amy Pascal revealed that filming for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia films will begin in July 2025, with Shepperton Studios in the UK set to serve as the production base, according to The Times.

Cast

No casting announcements have been made yet, but there’s certainly no shortage of actors eager to get involved. Saoirse Ronan, a longtime collaborator of Greta Gerwig who missed out on Barbie, recently hinted that we might see her in Narnia.

We have that kind of relationship where I’m like “so I’ll be in the next one!” I’m so happy for them, that [Barbie] did well. I’m so delighted. But it didn’t feel right that we were away from one another. So even if I’m just making tea in Narnia. I don’t really care.
Saoirse Ronan (Jan. 2024)

Joe Locke and Emma Myers also shared that they’d love to join the Narnia cast.

Release Date

Netflix and Greta Gerwig are reportedly targeting a December 2026 release for the first film in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Although the exact date remains unconfirmed, reports reveal that Netflix is actively negotiating with IMAX for a worldwide theatrical release—an unprecedented move for the company.

Here’s what you should know about the possible deal.

Which Book Will Be Adapted First?

Greta Gerwig has yet to announce the title of her first Narnia film, but in interviews she has mentioned The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, hinting at possible starting points.

Former Netflix Film Chief Scott Stuber has also highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities of adapting the series:

“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 Amy Pascal and Mark Gordon and they’re trying to figure out how they can break the whole arc of all of it.”
Scott Stuber (Nov. 2023)

Curious what NarniaWebbers think Netflix should tackle first? Check out our podcast discussion.

A Brief History of Narnia 4
(2010-Present)

Walden Media

After The Voyage of the Dawn Treader grossed $407 million in 2010 (less than the previous two Narnia movies), Walden Media hoped to do either The Silver Chair or The Magician’s Nephew next, but ultimately lost the rights.

The Silver Chair

In 2013, The Mark Gordon Company announced they were developing a film adaptation of The Silver Chair. David Magee came on as the screenwriter, and Joe Johnston as the director.

The production petered out after a change in leadership at Sony and creative differences with Douglas Gresham.

What would this Silver Chair movie been like? Here is everything we know, and our exclusive interview with the screenwriter.

Enter Netflix

In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia, and intended to create “both movies and series.” This was the first time the rights to all seven Narnia books have been held by the same company. According to The Sunday Times, Netflix paid nearly $250 million.

The original press release included the word “universe” 3 times, which caused some fans to speculate that we would see original content that expanded on the canon of C. S. Lewis. Mark Gordon said, “the pitch [to Netflix] was that we would be selling not just one movie or one book as a series. There were 3,000 characters in Narnia. So there was this very ripe opportunity.”

In 2019, Netflix announced Matthew Aldrich as the “Creative Architect” of their Narnia movies and series, but he ended up leaving the project approximately 18 months later. “It actually was creative differences,” Aldrich said. “I had laid out for [Netflix] a strategy of film and series as a way to adapt the seven books in a way that was both sort of respectful, but also not precious, you know, and try to sort of update them in some fun ways. And ultimately that’s not the direction Netflix wanted to go.”

Greta Gerwig

In 2023, it was revealed that Greta Gerwig is set to write and direct at least two Narnia movies for Netflix. The titles have not been announced, but based on comments from Netflix Film Chief Scott Stuber, a total reboot of the series appears likely.

Netflix’s Narnia Movies: What We Know