After weeks of speculation and some delays, it looks like Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “The Magician’s Nephew,” the first installment in Netflix’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ reboot, is finally on track to begin filming.
Production on the ambitious project, based on C.S. Lewis’ fantasy series, had reportedly hit a snag earlier this summer. A ScreenDaily report in June suggested a fall delay, clashing with producer Amy Pascal’s earlier claim that filming would kick off in July.
However, things are now shifting behind the scenes. Industry sources tell NarniaWeb that electricians, lighting crew, and VFX teams have begun setting up, signaling the start of final pre-production. Location filming in London is set to begin in September, most likely after Gerwig shows up at the Venice premiere of beau Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” for which she also co-stars.
Meanwhile, casting remains under wraps. So far, only Emma Mackey and Carey Mulligan have been officially announced. It’s also been reported that Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep are in talks. Saoirse Ronan is another potential castmate. Regardless, with filming imminent, it’s safe to assume most of the ensemble has already been locked.
Netflix and IMAX are planning for a wide theatrical rollout. It does look like it will be a two-week exclusive theatrical engagement targeting a November 2026 release. Despite resistance from some anti-Netflix exhibitors, both companies are reportedly committed to a marketing-heavy launch in IMAX.
A recent report from Observer had the budget for ‘Magician’s Nephew’ exceeding the $200M mark. Netflix is planning as many as six ‘Narnia’ films in total, with or without Gerwig’s participation. Godspeed.