Netflix's Narnia Reboot Begins With Prequel Film

Netflix is launching a new film franchise based on C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, beginning with an adaptation of the prequel novel The Magician's Nephew. The film, titled Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, is directed and written by Greta Gerwig and is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 12, 2027, followed by streaming on Netflix on April 2, 2027. The project marks a significant departure from previous adaptations by starting with the sixth book in the series, which serves as a chronological prequel. This approach allows the franchise to explore Narnia's origin story, depicting how the magical realm was created and how characters like the White Witch first arrived. A first look at the film, revealed by Empire Magazine, shows a redesigned Aslan. The lion is voiced by Meryl Streep and features heterochromatic eyes and a red streak in her fur, inspired by David Bowie. This design choice reflects Gerwig's stated vision for the franchise, which draws inspiration from 1960s and 70s rock and punk aesthetics. The adaptation also makes a notable change to the story's timeline. While the original novel is set in the early 1900s, the film moves the setting to 1950s Britain.