Greta Gerwig has turned into miss IP with “Barbie” and now the confirmation about her next two films.
In that same interview with The New Yorker, Gerwig confirms that she has a deal with Netflix to write and direct at least two films based on C. S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
In October 2018, Netflix had announced that they were collaborating with The C.S. Lewis estate in a multi-year deal where they would produce movies based on Lewis’ books. Gerwig seems to be their Gal to steer the ship forward.
So, after the critical acclaim of “Lady Bird,” Gerwig adapted “Little Women,” made a peculiar “Barbie” movie and is now going to Narnia. Hey, money talks.
These are some risky career choices, artistically speaking. Anything Gerwig intrigues us, she’s been an indie queen for more than a decade now — can you believe “Frances Ha” is almost 10 years old?
However, she seems to have refrained in making original content, her post- “Lady Bird” projects are all very much what you would qualify as “product.”
Of course, you can both believe that she’s very talented behind the camera and that she shouldn’t be doing these children’s adaptations. Will Gerwig bring anything new to “Narnia,” which has been adapted to death on-screen — maybe?
Dire times, man. We’re seeing a lot of talented filmmakers getting sucked into the IP machine. Ryan Coogler has been compromised by Disney, ditto Barry Jenkins with his CGI ‘Mufasa,’ and now Gerwig.
I wouldn't call this film great — it stops short of that because of how neatly it resolves itself — but I'll give Rock his due here: this is much better than his previous directorial effort, "Top Five."