Netflix is eventually producing films based on C.S. Lewis' popular fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. After Disney's high-budget film adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia gradually lost momentum, the American streaming giant acquired the franchise in its entirety in 2018.
The Chronicles of Narnia series on Netflix promises to be an original interpretation of the novels and is unlikely to be connected to the previous films. In the early to mid-1950s, C.S. Lewis wrote and published The Chronicles of Narnia, which rapidly became some of the most popular children's books of all time, drawing comparisons to The Lord of the Rings.
Netflix's acquisition of the series rights for their own Chronicles of Narnia reboot marks the first time a single entity has simultaneously owned the rights to all the books. The popular streaming platform will reportedly have no restrictions regarding The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation.
Although Netflix’s adaptation was announced five years ago, there was little news until the streaming behemoth hired Greta Gerwig to write and direct the first two films. This ultimately answered many questions, primarily revealing that the adaptation would consist of new movies and not a combination of movies and streaming series as originally planned by the original producers. As fans await more details, here is everything we know about Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia.
The Chronicles of Narnia Potential Release Date: When is it coming to Netflix?
Production for the films is presently in the very early stages, so it is impossible to predict when Netflix will release The Chronicles of Narnia. The announcement that Gerwig will write and direct the first two films was made on July 2, so she must still write the scripts, have them approved, and cast the film before she can begin production.
Due to the effects work that will likely be required, Netflix’s version of The Chronicles of Narnia would unlikely be released earlier than 2025. Greta recently said that she has not “really started wrapping my arms around it,” which makes sense since she got a little busy with Barbie.
Greta, during a talk on Total Film Podcast, said that she was “scared” and “excited” to start working on The Chronicles of Narnia adaption. She shared:
"I haven’t even really started wrapping my arms around it, but I’m properly scared of it, which feels like a good place to start. I think when I’m scared, it’s always a good sign. Maybe when I stop being scared, it’ll be like, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t do that one.’ No, I’m terrified of it. It’s extraordinary. And it’s exciting.”
The Chronicles of Narnia Cast: Who are the actors starring in the upcoming Netflix adaptation?
Since Greta Gerwig was just recruited to write and direct the first two The Chronicles of Narnia films for Netflix, it is impossible to predict the cast. Assuming the new films will commence at the beginning, the Pevensie siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) will need to be portrayed by four children and adolescents.
In addition, voice actors for Aslan, the Great Lion, the White Witch, and Mr. Tumnus would be required. These three mature characters were portrayed in the original The Chronicles of Narnia film by Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton, and James McAvoy.
The Chronicles of Narnia Plot: What is the upcoming Netflix adaptation about?
Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia will reboot the series and will not pick up where previous Narnia films left off. However, the biggest question is in what order Netflix will distribute the books: by publication date or by the story's actual chronology.
Most likely, Netflix will begin with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, following the order of the novels. This indicates that the first The Chronicles of Narnia film will likely begin with the story of the four Pevensie children being evacuated to the countryside during the Blitz, where they discover the enchanted wardrobe leading to the fantasy world of Narnia. Here, they join Aslan in combating the White Witch.
To recall, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was adapted by Disney in 2005, starring Tilda Swinton as the White Witch and James McAvoy as the spectacled gazelle Mr. Tumnus. In 2008, the studio released The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, starring Ben Barnes as the title character, with Fox adapting the third book in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the following year.
The Chronicles of Narnia Trailer: Is there a teaser for the upcoming Netflix adaptation?
Unfortunately, Netflix has not yet released an official trailer for its The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation as of this writing, but this page will be updated as soon as it becomes available. Rest assured, when the teaser arrives, EpicFlix will surely share it here. In the meantime, you can rewatch the trailer of the original The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie:
Stay tuned to EpicFlix for the latest news and updates about Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia movie!
