In October 2024, it was a momentous occasion as it marked the sixth anniversary of Netflix's first announcement regarding the acquisition of rights to adapt new Chronicles of Narnia movies and series. Since then, there have been periods of quietness aside from a few announcements, but recent developments have been quite significant. Here's an in-depth look at everything we know about Netflix's The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation with Greta Gerwig at the helm as of November 2024.

Unlock the Magic of Narnia on Netflix

What are The Chronicles of Narnia?

The Chronicles of Narnia is a renowned fantasy series by author C.S. Lewis, published in the 1950s. This fictional realm transports us to a world filled with wonder. A total of seven books were published under the Chronicles of Narnia banner:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Published in 1950Prince Capsian – 1951The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – 1952The Silver Chair – 1953The Horse and His Boy – 1954The Magician’s Nephew – 1955The Last Battle – 1956Over the years, this series has seen numerous adaptations, including a BBC TV series, a radio series, and the well-known Walt Disney-distributed movies. The first Disney movie was released in 2005, collaborating with Walden Media and adapting The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The second movie, based on Prince Capsian, was released in 2008, and the third movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, came out two years later in 2010. A fourth movie based on The Silver Chair was planned but never materialized.

How and when Netflix scored the Narnia franchise

Back in October 2018, the news broke that Netflix was teaming up with The C.S. Lewis Company. It was a "multi-year deal" that would bring multiple film and series projects based on the Narnia books. Ted Sarandos, then the chief content officer and now the co-CEO of Netflix, expressed his excitement, saying, "C.S. Lewis’s beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world. Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come."This deal gave Netflix access to all seven books, opening up the possibility of adapting some of the later books that had never been adapted before. Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber would be involved in most of the upcoming Netflix Narnia projects.

History of Development of Narnia at Netflix

In 2019, Matthew Aldrich became the "creative architect" of the Netflix franchise. He was the co-writer for Disney Pixar's Coco, a double Oscar-winning movie. The news was that he would oversee the development and creative live-action adaptation of the Narnia series.In 2020, there was little news on development, with Douglas Gresham expressing his uncertainty about Netflix's plans. In ~2020-2021, Matthew Aldrich left Netflix due to "creative differences," comparing the venture to "uphill sledding."In 2021, Scott Stuber, who headed Netflix's film division at the time, predicted that Narnia projects would release beyond 2021.In 2022, Ted Biaselli listed Narnia in his LinkedIn bio, and later, it was reported that Netflix was eyeing director Greta Gerwig to direct two movies. In late 2022, Gerwig's Barbie grossed over a billion dollars at the box office.In 2023, our scoop was confirmed that Greta Gerwig was on board to direct at least two movies for Netflix. She expressed her fear and excitement about the project. Amy Pascal was set to serve as a producer alongside Mark Gordon.

2024 – To IMAX or Not To IMAX and Non-Stop Rumors – 2026 Release?

Although production didn't start in 2024, rumors were rampant. Reports suggested that Netflix was in talks with IMAX to release the movie in select theaters from Thanksgiving 2026 with a Christmas Netflix release. The budget for the upcoming Gerwig Narnia movie was expected to exceed $200 million. Rumors also swirled about production starts, with incorrect dates suggesting August in London and January 2025 in New Zealand. There were also casting rumors involving Louis Patridge and Saoirse Ronan, but neither was true.

2025 – Filming to start in the Summer and filming in London

Producer Amy Pascal revealed that this version of Narnia will have a "very new take" and be "all about rock and roll." Greta Gerwig's impressive track record was emphasized, and they are scheduled to begin shooting in July. Shepperton Studios, just outside of London and home to many Netflix Originals, will be the filming location.

Where will The Chronicles of Narnia on Netflix start?

The Lion, Witch, and The Wardrobe is the natural starting point as it's the first book and where Disney began. However, actor Jason Isaacs seemed to suggest that Netflix will start with The Magician’s Nephew. Stuber also hinted that the movies may not be adapted in order. Our sources told us that Gerwig's first adaptation would be The Silver Chair, but it's yet to be confirmed. Here are the books in the "Harper Collins" order:The Magician’s NephewThe Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Horse and His BoyPrince CaspianThe Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Silver ChairThe Last BattleIn chronological order, it is:The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobePrince CaspianThe Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Silver ChairThe Horse and His BoyThe Magician’s NephewThe Last BattleThat's all we know so far. There's a lot more to come, and we'll be here to bring you every update.Are you excited about Narnia on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.