Hidden deep inside this THR piece is intel that Greta Gerwig has shown interest in working with newly minted “Anora” Best Actress winner Mikey Madison. No coincidence, it was Gerwig who presided over the Cannes jury that gave “Anora” the Palme d’Or last summer.
Though THR does not specify which project Gerwig has in mind for Madison, Gerwig seems to be fully invested in ‘Narnia’ at the moment, attached to helm two movies for her Netflix project. However, it’s also possible that Gerwig is considering Madison for another film, way down the road.
Filming and rehearsals for Gerwig’s franchise launcher, rumored to be “The Magician’s Nephew,” are scheduled to take place in the UK from June through Christmas 2025. A fall production start is being eyed on the film.
We still have no casting updates, but auditions are currently taking place for a boy and a girl, portraying characters that are “10 or 11 years old.” Saoirse Ronan is also rumored to have an undisclosed role. Suffice to say, we should be getting some announcements shortly, possibly in early summer.
Gerwig’s “Narnia,” which has an IMAX November 2026 release planned, is set to start production later this year. A recent report (via Observer) claimed that the budget on the film would probably “exceed” $200M.
Meanwhile, Madison is not attached to any projects at the moment, but THR does additionally mention she’s been offered a lead role for an upcoming Colleen Hoover adaptation. No word yet on whether she’s accepted the offer.
“Anora” was the breakout role Madison needed. She had launched her career with the FX comedy series “Better Things” (2016–2022). She also had a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and then starred in “Scream” (2022).
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.