Greta Gerwig is rebooting The Chronicles of Narnia franchise for Netflix. Following her work on Barbie, Gerwig is moving into the big-budget blockbuster scene. She has struck a deal with Netflix to write and direct at least two movies based on the books by C. S. Lewis.
The production of the Narnia film series is set to begin shooting this year. The original Narnia adaptations only managed to produce three films – The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. To avoid the mistakes made by the previous adaptations of C. S. Lewis’s work, Netflix will likely focus on high-profile casting. Using relevant and popular actors aims to increase audience engagement and interest, leading to a secure legacy for the franchise.
While the cast is currently unknown, Gerwig has worked with famous actors such as Meryl Streep and will likely reuse actors she has built a solid working relationship with – such as Timothée Chalamet, who recently starred as a young Willy Wonka in the musical fantasy film “Wonka”.
The Chronicles of Narnia is not the first older fantasy franchise to be dusted off and adapted after the failure of a movie. Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy experienced a similar treatment. The 2007 film “The Golden Compass” adaptation never received a sequel, and the franchise laid dormant until the 2019 TV series “His Dark Materials” emerged on HBO and BBC One. With 3 series covering the original trilogy and better audience ratings, the adaptation was a marked success on its predecessor.
Will the new Chronicles of Narnia films be able to repeat this success? Netflix seems to think so.
Have you watched the original Chronicle of Narina films? Are you excited to see the franchise emerge from the ashes? Who do you think will be cast? Follow us for more film news.