Netflix’s announcement of a reboot for the beloved Chronicles of Narnia franchise, spearheaded by director Greta Gerwig and starring Florence Pugh, has stirred a mix of anticipation and skepticism. The streaming giant’s track record with adaptations, exemplified by the misfire of “Cowboy Bebop,” raises questions about the success of such ambitious projects.
The Chronicles of Narnia originally captivated audiences with a trilogy of movies that concluded in 2010. However, plans for additional films, including a scrapped Chronicles of Narnia 4, were on the horizon over a decade ago. Now, Netflix is set to take on the C.S. Lewis book series with a rebooted starting point, which could finally see the full work adapted to the screen
Greta Gerwig, known for her work on films like “Barbie” and “Little Women,” is set to direct the first two entries in the Chronicles of Narnia reboot. Gerwig’s involvement might mean the project is pushing into a feminist bent, especially with the leaked choice of Florence Pugh to play Lucy Pevensie according to Discussing Film on X, an odd choice as she’s so much older than presented in the books and last adaptation.
Pugh has stirred controversy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe already with her replacement Black Widow, as she’s admitted she’s “pissed people off” in the portrayal.
Gerwig is reportedly starting the series with “The Magician’s Nephew”, the sixth book in the Narnia series, but a prequel to “The Lion, The Witch, And the Wardrobe.” This move provides an opportunity to explore new narratives not seen on the screen before, untethered from the well-trodden path of the Pevensie siblings’ adventures. Interestingly, this approach aligns with Fox’s past intentions to do the entire series of Chronicles of Narnia, which faced abandonment for the fourth film.
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“The Magician’s Nephew” presents the origin story of Narnia, unveiling the creation of the enchanted realm. The narrative, focusing on characters Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, delves into the birth of Narnia and the introduction of its first evil. While Fox’s attempt to adapt this prequel fell through, Netflix now could breathe life into this untold chapter.
Starting the reboot with “The Magician’s Nephew” not only sidesteps the need to revisit familiar ground, as seen in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” but also injects a sense of novelty into the franchise. The risk of inviting comparisons to the original movies is mitigated, allowing Netflix to pave the way for potential spinoffs within the Narnia universe.
Despite the promising elements, concerns linger, primarily fueled by Netflix’s inconsistent track record with adaptations. The recent stumble with “Cowboy Bebop” has left fans wary of how the streaming giant handles cherished source material. With Gerwig’s feminism so rampant in her movies, she could completely misfire on the Christian allegories of C.S. Lewis’ original vision that’s so beloved by readers.
In the realm of Narnia, where magic and wonder abound, Netflix’s gamble could either breathe new life into a dormant franchise or risk fading into the shadows of failed adaptations. Only time will unveil whether this journey into the wardrobe leads to renewed enchantment or becomes a cautionary tale in the ever-evolving landscape of streaming adaptations.
What do you think of a Chronicles of Narnia reboot from Netflix and Greta Gerwig? Leave a comment and let us know.
When did Walden Media lose control of this property? Even they bungled things by hiring an openly atheist director who deliberately purged any dialogue that seemed supportive of C.S. Lewis’s Christian themes. I have zero confidence, or hope for that matter, that this present team will not further subvert Mr. Lewis’s intentions.
Starting with The Magician’s Nephew makes logical sense as this article points out, though personally I don’t favor that approach. As a child reading the novels in their original sequence, I was enchanted to learn the origins of the lamp post, the White Witch, and other staples long after they’d been established in the series. That’s lost when you serve them up as appetizers.
Walden lost the rights in 2011.
Thru
🪦 narnia
Boo 👻 Netflix