Greta Gerwig has signed on to direct new adaptations of C.S. Lewis’s beloved Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix. This comes as Hollywood churns out a slew of remakes cashing in on nostalgia, often with controversial changes.
Gerwig wants to bring an offbeat sensibility that may seem at odds with the traditional charm of Narnia. She aims to highlight “paradoxes” in Lewis’s worlds, embracing contradictions that could undermine what fans find so compelling. Her talents range widely across quirky character studies and genres; does this prepare her to adapt works grounded in English mythology and Christianity?
So often, Hollywood forces modern mores upon old tales instead of preserving beloved elements. Audiences have recoiled from remakes serving current politics over timeless storytelling. One shudders imagining similar moves imposed upon Lewis’s classics.
Gerwig believes relatable emotion transcends demographics so “you don’t need specialized knowledge” as a viewer. A nice sentiment– but will she honor the traditions that cultivated such widespread appeal? Remaking classics is always risky. Director visions can clash with audience expectations. See the hostility toward reimagined worlds like HBO’s Westworld and Amazon’s Rings of Power.
As a young girl enchanted by the magical worlds of Narnia, I thrilled at the talking beasts, the quaint lamppost glowing in the woods, the Turkish Delight tempting Edmund. These stories awakened my imagination through rich symbolism grounded in Christianity and English lore.
I can admire Gerwig’s whimsy and appreciation for outcasts in her indie character studies. Yet I hesitate to see Lewis’s profound classics filtered through her offbeat, modern lens. When filmmakers impose contemporary ideals upon old stories, it rarely brings out their timeless wisdom, replacing it with a post-modern dribble that goes strongly against Lewis’s morale of the books.
Gerwig describes her take on Narnia as “euphorically dreamlike,” highlighting strange “paradoxes” in worldbuilding. The book’s nuanced themes of salvation, sacrifice, and redemption resonate so deeply because Lewis integrated the magical and mundane. Attempting to modernize such archetypes could undermine why these stories enthrall generation after generation.
I am leery of Hollywood’s tendency to prioritize wokeness over meaningful storytelling. Look what happened to Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid. Instead of respecting the redheaded icon, they remade Ariel and uplifted the story to appease modern diversity politics. That agonizingly misses why young girls connect to the character’s journey. Is Gerwig going down a similar path that would rob Narnia’s heroines of their power?
Netflix promises Gerwig will craft stories still “rooted in faith.”, but will she focus on the Christian heart of Narnia or water that down? These worlds’ beauty stems from the marriage of magic, myth and traditional spirituality. I fear Gerwig’s “bigger, bolder” vision could lose touch with what made so many little girls believe we could pass through an old wardrobe into enchanted lands.
Lewis once said, “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.” As an adult woman, I feel I’ve reached that point to reconnect with Narnia’s magic. But I dread a flashy, noisy blockbuster erasing the delicate charms that captivated my girlish imagination.
At what point do updates undermine source material instead of enhancing it? Narnia’s magic stems from mythical creatures, Father Christmas, the powerful Aslan, and innocence– not heavy-handed messaging. Yet Hollywood has shown a willingness to sacrifice story integrity to appear progressive. Let’s hope Gerwig respects Narnia’s spirit. Otherwise, her grand directorial visions may defy the very “paradox” that makes these tales endure across generations. Some classics are not vehicles for the latest social commentary.
Narnia speaks to universal longings— to believe animals talk wisdom, evil witches cast spells, and lions return as saviors. The childlike innocence at Narnia’s heart mustn’t get trampled under CGI spectacle or heavy-handed messaging. For countless fans of the books today, this wondrous world remains a beloved escape. Some classics should remain in a common wardrobe; untouched portals to sweeter times waiting to be picked up and read.
Didn’t Netflix do Cuties? That’s probably your answer.
Let’s see here…
1. Netflix
2. She’s married to a half-small hat tribe guy.
3. Directed feminist propaganda piece Barbie.
4. Was a screenwriter for the upcoming dumpster fire Snow White and the Seven Stunning and Brave Diverse Companions.
Yeah this is going to be dead on arrival.
DOA!
Let’s stop giving the benfit of the doubt when the origin and intentions are clear.
I would rather see an article highlighting the clear red flags and giving well reasoned warning to “normies”.
They will never learn, we should never support…