The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe may be the first Chronicles of Narnia novel to get the live-action film treatment, but The Magician’s Nephew is where everything began. Netflix is bringing C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world to life for the first time, and its debut trailer has unveiled a fresh look at the psychedelic spectacle, featuring main characters Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, Meryl Streep as Aslan, and the dangerous big bad, Jadis (or better known as the White Witch).
After opening with Daniel Craig’s Andrew Ketterley — the titular magician — giving the pair of friends a magical ring that transports them to a multitude of universes, it introduces various mythical fauna, creatures, and beings, including Fledge, a talking horse who can also fly, against the backdrop of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”, before ending with Aslan singing Narnia into existence. The film is described as a “sweeping adventure that invites dreamers of all ages to experience the creation of Narnia” with no additional story details, but director Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Lady Bird) clearly isn’t opting for a beat-by-beat adaptation of the classic adventure, which may not sit well with hardcore fans.
David McKenna (Lord of the Flies) and Beatrice Campbell play Digory and Polly, respectively, with Emma Mackey (Death on the Nile) stepping into the role of Jadis, originally played by Tilda Swinton. Other co-stars include Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (The Sheep Detectives), Denise Gough (Andor), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), and Ciarán Hinds (Rome). Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal and Vincent Sieber will produce, while Patricia Whitcher, Douglas Gresham, and Melvin Adams serve as executive producers.
The project was first announced back in 2023, after Netflix acquired rights to the Narnia novel series. 20th Century and Disney helmed the previous three instalments: 2005’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 2008’s Prince Caspian, and 2010’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth book to be published, but its chronology puts it as the prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is set to hit the silver screen on 12 February 2027, marking one of Netflix’s first-ever wide theatrical releases. It will then premiere on the streamer on 2 April.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Joey Leong
