C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia have been filmed before. The Disney and Walden trilogy (2005–2010) began with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and petered out by its third instalment. Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, however, starts from the very beginning: it is the chronologically first story in the series and has never been adapted for the big screen. Writing and directing is Greta Gerwig, whose Barbie (2023) was the year's highest-grossing film worldwide. The film opens in cinemas on 12 February 2027.
What is The Magician's Nephew about?
Lewis' novel was published in 1955 as the sixth Narnia book, but in terms of events it comes first. The story follows two London children, Digory and Polly, who become the subjects of magical experiments by Digory's dubious Uncle Andrew. With the help of magic rings, the children end up in the Wood between the Worlds and from there in the dead city of Charn. There they accidentally awaken Queen Jadis, later known as the White Witch.
Eventually the children witness something unique: Aslan the lion sings the world of Narnia into existence. The book explains many things that remained mysteries in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, such as why there is a lamp-post in Narnia and where the magic wardrobe came from.
Netflix's first trailer follows this structure. It shows Uncle Andrew's cluttered laboratory, a first glimpse of Charn, a winged horse and finally the birth of Narnia. The trailer is set to Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.
Cast and roles
- David McKenna – Digory Kirke
- Beatrice Campbell – Polly Plummer
- Daniel Craig – Andrew Ketterley, the "magician"
- Emma Mackey – Jadis, the future White Witch
- Meryl Streep – Aslan
- Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma
Meryl Streep as Aslan is perhaps the film's boldest choice, and the first images of the lion released earlier sparked plenty of discussion. Emma Mackey (Sex Education, Barbie) plays Jadis, and judging by the trailer her interpretation is theatrical, almost rock-opera-like. Daniel Craig appears in a rare comic supporting role as the eccentric Uncle Andrew.
Gerwig's rock'n'roll Narnia
Gerwig has said the film's style was influenced by British rock of the 1960s and 70s. She has named David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant among her references. According to the director, Narnia is literally a world made of music, because Aslan sings it into existence. That is why rock'n'roll felt to her like a natural way to portray it.
The music was composed by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, who already worked with Gerwig on Barbie. The editors are Andrew Weisblum, Nick Houy and Wyatt Smith.
What's on Netflix's trailer analysis also noted a clear departure from the book: in the trailer, Jadis uses her magic to wreak havoc in the city, although in the novel her powers do not work in our world. Gerwig is therefore expected to make changes to the book.
Netflix's unusual release
The film is produced by Netflix, but it will be seen in cinemas first. IMAX previews begin on 10 February, and the worldwide release is on 12 February 2027. The film arrives on Netflix on 2 April 2027. According to JoBlo, it is the first Netflix film to receive such a wide theatrical release. International theatrical distribution is handled by Sony Pictures.
The release was moved from the originally planned November 2026 to February 2027. According to Slashfilm, the budget has been reported at around 200 million dollars, making it by far the biggest project of Gerwig's career.
Analysis: can Narnia rise again?
The previous Narnia film series showed that Lewis' world has an audience, but its popularity waned. Gerwig's choice was bold: rather than the best-known book, she starts with the strangest and most cosmic one. The Magician's Nephew is a creation story full of biblical echoes, but also an adventure with humour and nightmarish imagery.
The C. S. Lewis estate has said it hopes the film will be successful enough for filmmakers of the same calibre to adapt all the Narnia stories. The Magician's Nephew is thus the potential opening of a new series. Its reception will decide whether we get to see the whole Chronicles of Narnia again.
Age rating and running time
KAVI's age rating and the official running time had not been published at the time of writing. The film is aimed at the whole family, but the trailer's Charn scenes and Jadis' destruction suggest it is not merely a fairy-tale adventure. We will update the details once they are confirmed.
Read or watch before the film
- The Magician's Nephew (C. S. Lewis, 1955) – a short book you can read before the release. It also works as a family bedtime story.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) – the Disney and Walden film whose events The Magician's Nephew sets up.
- Little Women (2019) – Gerwig's earlier literary adaptation, which proved her skill at turning a beloved classic into something new.
Our expectations
We expect a bold and divisive interpretation. Gerwig's rock-influenced style is a clear break from the earlier Narnia films and will spark debate among fans of the books. Judging by the trailer, Daniel Craig's and Emma Mackey's performances look like the film's strongest cards. The biggest open question is Aslan. Casting Meryl Streep is unusual, and the interpretation of the lion will largely determine whether the creation of Narnia manages to move audiences. The two-month theatrical window before Netflix shows that the film was designed specifically for the big screen.
Frequently asked questions
When is Narnia: The Magician's Nephew released in cinemas?
The worldwide release, including Finland, is on 12 February 2027. IMAX previews begin on 10 February.
Is the film coming to Netflix?
Yes. According to Netflix, the film arrives on the service on 2 April 2027.
Who voices Aslan?
Aslan is played by Meryl Streep.
Is this a continuation of the old Narnia films?
No. It is a new interpretation that begins with the chronologically first Narnia story.
This text is based on information published by the film's distributors, production companies and film media. Assessments and interpretations are our own and are not based on seeing the finished film unless stated otherwise.
