Guinea Pig Used on ‘Wood Between the Worlds’ Set For Netflix’s Narnia
Last month, we reported that animal trainers were present on the set of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, confirming that live animals were being used. NarniaWeb has also learned that one of those animals was, in fact, a guinea pig.
We can also confirm that the guinea pig was used specifically on the Wood Between the Worlds set, which was likely filmed at Shepperton Studios.
In the book, guinea pigs are cruelly used by Uncle Andrew to test his newly created magic rings. Digory and Polly later encounter one of the animals in the Wood Between the Worlds, with a ring tied to it. Seeing the guinea pig helps break the trance-like forgetfulness induced by the Wood, reminding them of London and why they entered the pools in the first place.
While much from the set remains under wraps, Gerwig previously referenced the Wood Between the Worlds in a 2023 interview when describing her stage in the preparation process for Narnia:
There’s a thing in one of his books called the Wood between the Worlds. That’s where I am. I’m in the Wood between the Worlds. It’s a wood that goes on forever, you can’t see the sky, it’s so dense, you can’t see the end of it. And there are all these pools and at the bottom of each pool is a universe. […] The problem with the the Wood between the Worlds is that you can often forget what you’re doing there (laughs). This is actually a feature of it. You kinda get a little bit of amnesia. So you have to remember, ‘where am I going? Which world am I trying to get to now?“
Netflix’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled to open in IMAX on November 26, 2026.
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257 days to go!
Your comment was posted so quickly! Impressive 😉
Haha! I always like to keep a lookout for the latest post!
Predicting we’ll see a trailer soon. They can’t wait much longer, can they?
I hope so! Although based on recent Netflix marketing for big events, it may not happen till August time
Ayyyy
What are the chances the guinea pig also ends up in Narnia rather than being left alone in the Wood Between the Worlds?
I can easily see it becoming a bit of a fan favorite, so it wouldn’t surprise me for them to have someone scoop it up when the group gets back into the Wood Between the World in order to keep it from Uncle Andrew.
That would be such a cute idea and a change that I would totally be okay with! 😉
Genuinely happy to see they’re not completely ignoring all details from the book. Hopefully we get more stories like this one!
If they were completely ignoring the books, The Wood Between the Worlds wouldn’t make the cut nevermind the guinea pig which doesn’t really factor into the plot much at all. Though, we might still be more in line for an adaptation “inspired by The Magician’s Nephew’ than a traditional approach.
The Wood Between the Worlds is one of the best scenes in the whole series. Lewis made something so special and memorable in its atmosphere that if Gerwig can capture even a third of it, it’ll be amazing to experience it on the big screen. Don’t mess this up!
I agree with you about it being one of the best scenes in the series. The Wood Between the Worlds is a such a powerful idea and the timelessness, tranquility and beauty that it exudes is no doubt meant to express the heavenly world for which we humans long. Don’t mess up, Gerwig!!
I’m glad they’re keeping the guinea pig, and I look forward to seeing it in the movie. That said, not to be a downer, but I think it’s slightly discouraging that this is one of the most hopeful bits of news for book fans so far. I think this is the first time I’ve seen any piece of news since we found out it was The Magician’s Nephew where my reaction was, “Oh yeah! I remember that from the book!” and the guinea pig is a very small part of the book. It’s also been a long time since we’ve gotten updates on the Meryl Streep thing.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is being released soon so there may be some new information when Meryl does interviews.
Oh yeah!
Well, the Guinea Pig sounds cute – and while its a small detail, I am grateful to hear that this is going to be included in the movie. Let us hope for some more good news along this lines. 🙂
wow cant wait to see it!!
Love to see it!
I’m starting to imagine how Gerwig will create the feeling – mood – sense of the wood between the worlds – sleepy, forgetting, slow, quiet…green…
Yes! I love the guinea pig! I was really happy to hear this.
Great!
@Jonathan Paravel, Is there any possibility Gerwig might make it more of a feel of Mirkwood from the Desolation of Smaug? Kinda confusing? I always thought that would be how they’re feeling (well, not arguing like the dwarves, but very forgetful). Like how everything was hazy and almost foggy. Obviously without that screeching soundtrack Howard Shore wrote for that DOS scene. Something more peaceful, like a “Lucy Enters Narnia” vibe, maybe?
Hmm… the change in the time of the setting, Jadis’s costume, and the Meryl Streep rumors have certainly caused us all some concern, but these are the sort of details about attention to detail and faithfulness to the material that I had expected to see based off of Gerwig’s early interviews.
Still not sure what to think about it all, but the guinea pig, the lightning-struck tree, the beaver casting, etc. are giving me a bit more hope. I think Gerwig does genuinely care about the story… whether we’ll like her take on it remains to be seen. She’s got to get the spirit of the story as well as the details.
I was not sure the guinea pig would remain with the other changes they were making, so I’m glad to hear there will be one in the movie.
On a side note, every time there is a popular animal movie such as 101 Dalmatians or Finding Nemo, lots of people rush to buy the animals as pets and it creates a bad environment for the animals where sellers try to breed more animals than usual, even if it sacrifices health. If you are thinking of getting a pet guinea pig, buy one now so you don’t have to worry about this issue if suddenly children everywhere want pet guinea pigs.