Director Greta Gerwig recently shared exciting details about Netflix’s fantasy film adaptation, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. Based on C.S. Lewis’s 1955 classic novel, the project explores the origins of Narnia, tracing the roots of the magical universe long before the creation of the iconic wardrobe.
Speaking during a special preview event at the Lincoln Square IMAX in Manhattan, hosted alongside a Q&A with Stephen Colbert, Gerwig discussed the upcoming production, its historical setting, and the unique creative choices behind her cinematic vision. The film is scheduled for a global theatrical and IMAX release on February 12, 2027, before making its streaming debut on Netflix on April 2, 2027.
From Childhood Favorite to Cinematic Epic
Gerwig’s journey with the material began long before she sat in the director’s chair. A lifelong fan of C.S. Lewis’s literary works, she recalled first reading The Magician’s Nephew as a child and falling deeply in love with its concepts.
“I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life,” Gerwig shared in a statement. “It is the honor of a lifetime to be asked to imagine it into being.”
The filmmaker’s involvement officially began in 2019. After learning that Netflix had acquired the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia franchise in 2018, Gerwig approached Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos at a celebration party for her husband Noah Baumbach’s film Marriage Story. She pitched her vision-insisting that The Magician’s Nephew must serve as the starting point-and secured the job roughly 20 minutes later.
Cast, Crew, and an Unprecedented Music Sync
Written and directed by Gerwig, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew features a star-studded ensemble cast paired with fresh faces. The lineup includes:
- David McKenna as Digory Kirke
- Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer
- Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew Ketterley
- Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan
- Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, and Ciarán Hinds
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough, and Susan Wokoma
One of the most striking revelations from the Manhattan preview was the trailer’s soundtrack. The preview is set to Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven,” a monumental achievement given the band’s historical reluctance to license their music for film and television. Gerwig personally screened portions of the film for Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, who were reportedly moved by the movie’s heart and spiritual themes that they granted permission for its use.
Additionally, the film features an original score composed by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, who previously collaborated with Gerwig on her box-office smash Barbie.
A Historic Theatrical Release for Netflix
In a first for the streaming giant, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will receive a traditional theatrical run, playing exclusively in theaters and IMAX locations for 49 days before landing on Netflix. Early sneak previews in IMAX are slated to begin on February 10, 2027.
Gerwig emphasized that she knows how to make films for the big screen, recalling Ted Sarandos’s encouraging advice: “Make the movie for the biggest screen you can imagine.” With meticulous worldbuilding, a stellar cast, and a personal creative approach, Gerwig’s adaptation aims to re-enchant audiences of all ages when it arrives in early 2027.
