A new adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia by the director of Barbie is the project Netflix embarked on several years ago. After Disney's failed attempt—the saga never managed to stand out as a fantasy monster like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings—the American company hopes to give C.S. Lewis's imagination the adaptation it deserves. Greta Gerwig, the director behind the biggest box office grossing film in history, is set to soon bring The Magician's Nephew to the big screen. This is the first time the book has received such treatment, with Disney choosing to ignore the foreword to immortalize the adventures of the Pevensie family with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
While the release date is already set for the end of 2026, with a two-week IMAX exclusivity in certain territories, the project is finally making headlines again. Rumors surrounding the casting of this proposal are rife, particularly regarding the characters of Aslan and Jadis. In the first case, Meryl Streep's name has been circulating for several weeks. The actress is expected to lend her voice to the Lion Regent of Narnia. For the second protagonist, who plays a crucial role in both the first and second novels, there's still a long way to go. While singer Charlie XCX was considered, Gerwig ultimately chose Emma MacKay. This isn't the first time the two women have collaborated; Mackey was one of the supporting actresses in her Barbie starring Margot Robbie.
Emma Mackey rose to fame with the 2019 series Sex Education. Her performance as Maeve Wiley earned her recognition in both Hollywood and France. In addition to Barbie, she has made notable appearances in Emily by Frances O'Connor and in Death on the Nile by Kenneth Branagh. In France, she played Adrienne Bourgès opposite Romain Duris in Eiffel by Martin Bourboulon. His entry into the imagination of C.S Lewis undoubtedly marks a turning point in his career, offering him a golden opportunity to take on an emblematic role in fantasy. Netflix, when contacted by The Hollywood Reporter, declined to comment.
A fantasy success like in the past?
In the early 2000s, after the success of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter saga, all the studios started adapting the classics. from the children's and fantasy literature section. His Dark Materials, Percy Jackson, or even Eragon, there's no shortage of iconic universes. But few manage to stand out like the adventures of Frodo or the little wizard with glasses. After a first installment that was rather popular with viewers, The Chronicles of Narnia saw its revenue plummet as the saga progressed. But it was the loss of the rights by the co-production company Walden Media that would ultimately put an end to the saga.
A decade later, Netflix is hoping to create a new major success. And the stars seem to be aligned. Aside from Greta Gerwig's reputation, the platform's project is coming out at a time when reinterpretations of children's literature classics are on the rise. From Percy Jackson and the Olympians to His Dark Materials and the Harry Potter series, Hollywood is rehashing its old licenses, hoping to surpass its previous results. One would be tempted to say that Narnia is well on its way to being a hit. As a reminder, the first novel follows the adventures of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two neighbors who discover an attic belonging to Digory's uncle. Among the many artifacts present, they come across two rings that allow them to travel to a world between pools of water. It is there that they will meet the witch Jadis, destined to become the White Witch of the second novel. The novel tells the story of the creation of Narnia and explains how the magic wardrobe came to be. It is this ring that will later allow the Pevensie children to meet Aslan, Mr. Tumnus, and other residents of Narnia. So, see you in November 2026 to find out what the saga has in store for us.
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