We don’t know much about Greta Gerwig’s planned ‘Narnia’ adaptations for Netflix, comprised of two instalments, except that it might be shot next year, and Saoirse Ronan is itching to star in it. No cast or plot details have been revealed, so far.
Apparently, Jason Isaacs might know something that we don’t. The actor, who had previously auditioned for the role of Aslan in Disney’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ movies, tells The Week that one of the books Gerwig is adapting might be “The Magician’s Nephew”:
I loved all the Narnia books as a kid. When Peter was told he wouldn’t be coming back, I understood something devastating about mortality. I picked [The Magician’s Nephew] because Greta Gerwig is about to make a film of it, which I can’t wait to see.
It’s again worth noting that no official confirmation has been made regarding which books will be adapted first. Is Isaacs revealing insider knowledge? It’s quite possible.
‘Magician’s Nephew’ would certainly be a fresh new take on the franchise. If Gerwig were to begin her set of films with a prequel story, this would likely broaden the audience and introduce essential plot elements for the next instalment.
It should also be worth noting that ‘Narnia’ author C.S. Lewis preferred ‘Magician's Nephew’ as the first book in the series and wanted it to be read before all of the other ones.
Gerwig signed on to direct ‘Narnia’ months before “Barbie” was released in theaters, sometime in late 2022. I don’t think she realized at the time how big “Barbie” was going to be. After “Barbie,” she could have gotten carte blanche on whatever passion project she wanted to do next, but ‘Narnia’ has now turned into her follow-up effort.
There have been some reports of friction between Gerwig and Netflix, and ensuing rumors pointed towards Gerwig wanting her ‘Narnia’ movies to get released theatrically. There are currently talks between IMAX and Netflix to make that happen.