IMAX CEO: Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Is “Not Your Grandmother’s Narnia”, Will Feature Rock-Inspired Music
IMAX held its first Investors Day presentation in New York, where CEO Rich Gelfond shared new details about Netflix and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, scheduled for release next November. His most revealing comments centred on the film’s musical direction.
According to Gelfond, Gerwig’s Narnia will feature a contemporary, rock-influenced sound, with artists like Pink Floyd and The Doors cited as examples of the tone fans can expect. The film’s score is being composed by music producer Mark Ronson, who recently worked on Barbie. Producer Amy Pascal made a similar remark in 2024, when she infamously described the project as “all about rock and roll.”
This is a real blockbuster movie that’s being made for [IMAX and Netflix] and you know, I guess I do have to talk a little about why I’m so excited about it. This is not your mother’s or your grandmother‘s Narnia. The music in it is unbelievably contemporary music, which IMAX fans like. I’m not gonna say specifically, but things like Pink Floyd and The Doors. You know that kind of music which people go to see in IMAX.”
Attendees at the in-person event were shown a brief clip from Greta Gerwig, and Gelfond described visiting the enormous Cardington Studios set, where the project is being shot across multiple stages and locations.
The movie itself is being filmed at the largest sound stage in Europe. I went on the set where there were hundreds of people and multiple green screens and it’s filmed at multiple locations. You’re gonna see a clip in a second and if you can’t see how passionate Greta is about it, then you’ll have to wait to see the movie to see how awesome it is.”
Gelfond voiced strong confidence in the project overall, saying that Gerwig’s Narnia film — and IMAX’s partnership with Netflix — is “really going to change the world” and “create a cultural event.”
So this is one where, […] my team has to hold me back. Because I think, as I said before, that it’s really going to change the world. And I know that sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but Greta is making this movie for IMAX, and then fully understands that when word gets out about what this movie is, it’s going to create a cultural event.”
Gelfond also reiterated that The Magician’s Nephew will premiere exclusively in IMAX theatres, a decision he credited directly to Gerwig. The 28-day IMAX-only release window has drawn backlash from rival studios and exhibitors due to Netflix’s reluctance to adopt traditional theatrical runs.
What do you make of Gelfond’s comments? Head over to our Discussion Forum or Discord to break down all the implications!
Ugh. This sounds terrible. At no point when reading “The Magician’s Nephew” did I think to myself, “You know what this needs? A little Pink Floyd.”
I actually don’t think this is a horrible thing…I feel and have voiced so many of the same concerns as you and still worry because of how deeply I hold these stories to my heart and how long I have waited to see them adapted…but the comments about the set sound very optimistic and he seems very confident in the project…I love to hear they believe it will change the world because nothing would make me happier. I also felt a lot of dread after reading the contemporary rock comments…but after researching what contemporary really means in a music context, it seems to refer to music that would sound perfect in an adaptation of Narnia. Think Aurora, Coldplay even Imogen heap who worked on the LWW soundtrack and did amazing, after looking into it that soundtrack itself is largely considered contemporary. So it may just be the context and I know the initial response but after looking into it, it appears that it may just be their choice of words. It seems that vocabulary refers to a style of music that may fit Narnia very well. And even if I’m hurt in the end, I won’t give up hope. There’s nothing we can do at this point but hope for the best and until I see the movie I will hold out hope. “We have nothing, if not hope”
Great – so you will take away narnias heart. Remove any elements that there might be an implication of Jesus. This story should be honoured. A great example of how this world is continually plummeting into filth. C S Lewis would be appalled. My family was friends with his adopted son Doug. I won’t even watch it
Yes please
That sounds amazing. I think a lot of people freaking out aren’t realizing how bits of rock here and there could be nice touches that emphasize the vibe. I think Lewis would be open to it.
“Not your grandmother’s Narnia” is very much starting to sound like Rachel Zegler’s “it’s not 1937 anymore” in reference to Snow White.
As a a longtime Narnia fan, I do not have high hopes. The fact that they’d even change the time period at all, or even entertain the thought of having a woman voice a character who’s meant to be male, really disappoints me.
What this series is and what it represents allegorically needs to be taken seriously. If Peter Jackson can bring across the spiritual message in the Lord of the Rings films and respect it while not being religious himself, then surely the makers of these new Narnia films can find it in themselves to respect the overarching message of the source material they’re adapting from.
SusanArcher, I agree with you! Those movies are so precious including the music as well!
My goodness!
People….this is a movie!! Good or bad, it doesn’t matter in the long run. See it or don’t- it doesn’t matter.
Gerwig and her team are doing a new spin. Good for them. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. Good for you.
But stop trying to make this into a culture war issue. Tell you what – I think making Narnia the center of a culture battle would irritate Lewis more than a divisive adaptation.
@Voice of Reason, the thing is if you’re a Narnia fan, you can’t just forget this movie exists and move on with your life. There will be ads for it on TV and on social media. If you go to Narnia-related sites, YouTube will probably recommend trailers to you. If the movie is popular, which Netflix seems to expect it to be, you’ll hear other people talking about it. And if those other people know you’re a fan of the books, they’ll definitely ask you about what you think of the movie. As much as book fans might wish things different, film adaptations cannot be ignored.
Pretty ironic that Douglas Gresham walked away from the Silver Chair movie because the studio wanted to turn it into a “girl power” movie but that seems pretty minor in comparison to a Magician’s Nephew movie set in the 1950s, featuring rock music with Meryl Streep voicing Aslan. Wonder if all this would be happening if he wasn’t ill.
@Angry, well, I guess I’ll just be waiting till 2027 to hopefully see The Hunt for Gollum adapted well…but who knows? Fingers crossed we’ll see a Magician’s Nephew that surprises us. If not, we always have the old ones to hold onto.
This is the last straw! No! Just no!
You’re never happy with anything. Sticky with the books. That would be better for you.
@Taylor Hope Bitz The thing about Jackson being able to make a great adaptation despite not being religious is not an argument. Of course it’s possible. Of course Gerwig can do the same. Doesn’t mean she will, though. She’s not Jackson and you can’t assume that if Jackson did something well, another person will do that, too. It’s like saying “if LOTR was great, then every other fantasy movie should be great, too.”
@Peter So we aren’t allowed to express our thoughts, doubts and opinions anymore because it upsets you personally, is that it? If you expect everyone to always agree with you and you can’t stand people disliking something you like, it’s a you problem, not other people’s problem, sorry to break it to you. If you really can’t stand hearing negative opinions, maybe you should try working on yourself to become less fragile, instead of trying to silence others in order to avoid the discomfort of hearing a different opinion.
It feels like they are trying to strap away every bit of magic from this movie.
From the article to the comments I’m really disappointed in the lack of critical thinking. Again I’m not surprised. It took me a while I wrap my mind around what could be so defining about rock and roll and why that would be so impressive in Narnia, but knowing a lot of close friends who have been involved in that kind of music and heavy metal, I’ve come to learn that rock is generally a piece of genre that requires a huge amount of skill to create. So in which case I am very open and optimistic about these films. People are judging way too early and becoming the literal embodiment of Uncle Andrew’s stupidity.
Narniawebbers absolutely have a right to be angry; Nothing this IMAX CEO (random guy) just said screams Narnia. I really wish some people would stop harping on Narnia fans for having negative responses to this kind of news.
As always, people only know how to complain.
They complain before, during, and after. Annoying generation, everyone wants their own movie.
The guy doesn’t know Pink Floyd and he’s complaining… surreal!
All the Debbie Downers on here really need to lighten up. We know virtually nothing about TMN at this stage and so many are already desperate to criticise. I think it’s a shame. Just enjoy the build up, and imagine yourself sat in an IMAX cinema next November watching the first ever film of TMN. It’s exciting!
OH good lord no. Every day this movie series gets worse and worse.