Netflix’s Narnia Movies: What We Know
Updated: November 10th, 2024
Netflix is developing new live-action adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. This page will be updated regularly with the latest information.
The Director
Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women, Barbie) is set to write and direct at least two Narnia movies for Netflix. At this time, the titles of the films have not been announced.
Unfamiliar with Gerwig? Here is what you should know.
I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia, I loved Narnia so much as a child. As an adult, C.S. Lewis is a thinker and a writer. I’m intimidated by doing this. It’s something that feels like a worthy thing to be intimidated by. … As a non-British person, I feel a particular sense of wanting to do it correctly… it’s like when Americans do Shakespeare, there’s a slight feeling of reverence and as if maybe we should treat it with extra care. It is not our countryman.”
Greta Gerwig (Jan. 2024)
Matthew Aldrich was announced as the “creative architect” in 2019, but his involvement now seems doubtful.
Release Date
A release date and production schedule have not been announced; however, Netflix and Greta Gerwig are reportedly aiming for a theatrical release in November 2026.
A Brief History of Narnia 4
(2010-Present)
Walden Media
After The Voyage of the Dawn Treader grossed $407 million in 2010 (less than the previous two Narnia movies), Walden Media hoped to do either The Silver Chair or The Magician’s Nephew next, but ultimately lost the rights.
The Silver Chair
In 2013, The Mark Gordon Company announced they were developing a film adaptation of The Silver Chair. David Magee came on as the screenwriter, and Joe Johnston as the director.
The production petered out after a change in leadership at Sony and creative differences with Douglas Gresham.
What would this Silver Chair movie been like? Here is everything we know, and our exclusive interview with the screenwriter.
Enter Netflix
In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia, and intended to create “both movies and series.” This was the first time the rights to all seven Narnia books have been held by the same company. According to The Sunday Times, Netflix paid nearly $250 million.
The original press release included the word “universe” 3 times, which caused some fans to speculate that we would see original content that expanded on the canon of C. S. Lewis. Mark Gordon said, “the pitch [to Netflix] was that we would be selling not just one movie or one book as a series. There were 3,000 characters in Narnia. So there was this very ripe opportunity.”
In 2019, Netflix announced Matthew Aldrich as the “Creative Architect” of their Narnia movies and series, but he ended up leaving the project approximately 18 months later. “It actually was creative differences,” Aldrich said. “I had laid out for [Netflix] a strategy of film and series as a way to adapt the seven books in a way that was both sort of respectful, but also not precious, you know, and try to sort of update them in some fun ways. And ultimately that’s not the direction Netflix wanted to go.”
Greta Gerwig
In 2023, it was revealed that Greta Gerwig is set to write and direct at least two Narnia movies for Netflix. The titles have not been announced, but based on comments from Netflix Film Chief Scott Stuber, a total reboot of the series appears likely.
News Posts
- 9.18.18 RUMOR: Netflix Developing a Narnia Series?
- 10.3.18 Official: Netflix Developing Narnia Movies and Series!
- 11.9.18 Netflix’s Narnia Adaptations Will Be Live-Action
- 12.5.18 Screenwriter David Magee Not Involved with Narnia on Netflix
- 2.27.19 Gresham on Possible Multi-Episode Narnia Series at Netflix
- 4.11.19 The Pitch That Sold Narnia to Netflix
- 6.12.19 Matthew Aldrich to Oversee Netflix’s Narnia
- 6.18.19 Who Is Matthew Aldrich? All About the Creative Architect for Netflix’s Narnia
- 8.23.19 Hasbro Acquires Entertainment One
- 10.26.19 Netflix Paid “Nine Figures” for Narnia Rights?
- 11.8.19 What Happened to The Silver Chair Movie
- 1.22.20 Douglas Gresham “Hasn’t Heard a Word” on Netflix’s Narnia
- 5.4.20 Georgie Henley on the Pressure of Playing Lucy in Narnia (addresses Netflix reboot)
- 5.29.20 With Narnia Trending Worldwide, Netflix Says Adaptation Is Still Happening
- 6.20.20 Matthew Aldrich Consults Kids in Screenwriting Process
- 8.6.20 Netflix Wants More “Family Live Action, Fantasy, Spectacle”
- 9.4.20 Mark Gordon to Head New Production Company With eOne
- 11.11.20 Netflix Says Narnia is Moving Forward
- 1.1.21 Producer Mark Gordon Excited for Narnia “Films and TV Series” on Netflix”
- 1.12.21 Netflix Film Chief Looks “Beyond 2021,” Mentions Narnia
- 8.6.21 Source: Netflix’s Narnia Still in Development
- 10.1.21 New President at Mark Gordon Pictures Worked on Narnia
- 10.28.21 Matthew Aldrich Attended Showrunner Training Program
- 11.14.22 Rumor: Greta Gerwig to Direct Netflix’s Narnia Movies?
- 12.22.22 Netflix Hints at Narnia Theatrical Release
- 7.3.23 Greta Gerwig to Write, Direct 2 Narnia Movies for Netflix!
- 7.10.23 Greta Gerwig: What Narnia Fans Should Know
- 7.18.23 Matthew Aldrich Bio Updated
- 10.1.23 Greta Gerwig Was Considering Narnia Before Directing Barbie
- 10.3.23 Greta Gerwig on Writing Narnia Movies: “I’m in the Wood Between the Worlds”
- 10.4.23 Greta Gerwig on Narnia: “It’s a Series of Books That Has Meant a Lot to Me in My Life”
- 10.9.23 Netflix Film Chief on “Interesting Narrative Form” of Narnia Series
- 10.9.23 Producer Amy Pascal Joins Netflix’s Narnia
- 10.14.23 Greta Gerwig Having “Recurring Nightmares” Writing Next Project
- 11.1.23 Greta Gerwig Was Considering Narnia Before Directing Barbie
- 11.3.23 Greta Gerwig on Writing Narnia Movies: “I’m in the Wood Between the Worlds”
- 11.4.23 Greta Gerwig on The Chronicles of Narnia: “It’s a Series of Books That Has Meant a Lot to Me in My Life”
- 11.7.23 Scott Stuber, Netflix, Mentions Greta Gerwig’s Narnia
- 11.9.23 Netflix Film Chief on “Interesting Narrative Form” of Narnia Series
- 11.9.23 Netflix Exec: Narnia Books “Are Very Much Based in Christianity”
- 11.9.23 Producer Amy Pascal Join’s Netflix Narnia
- 11.13.23 Mark Gordon Still Involved with Netflix’s Narnia, Hasbro Sells eOne to Lionsgate
- 12.3.23 Noah Baumbach “Working in the Background” on Narnia Movies
- 1.11.24 Netflix’s Narnia: Gerwig Taking “Extra Care” With Adaptations
- 1.12.24 What Greta Gerwig Told Her 4-Year-Old About Narnia
- 2.21.24 Greta Gerwig on C.S. Lewis, Narnia, and Re-Enchanting the World
- 3.11.24 Greta Gerwig Dives Into Narnia Pre-Production, Filming to Begin in 2024?
- 3.15.24 Netflix CEO Praises Greta Gerwig’s “Incredible Vision” for Narnia
- 3.22.24 William Moseley on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot
- 5.17.24 Greta Gerwig Talks About ‘Collaborating’ with C.S. Lewis and Her Eight-Year-Old Self for Netflix’s Narnia
- 8.1.24 Timothée Chalamet as Mr. Tumnus? James McAvoy Thinks It’s Perfect
- 10.4.24 Saoirse Ronan Addresses Narnia Casting Rumors on Jimmy Kimmel: Gerwig “Hasn’t Asked Me…Yet”
- 10.11.24 Greta Gerwig Pushing for Narnia Theatrical Release?
- 10.22.24 Bloomberg: Netflix’s ‘Narnia’ Adaptation to Exceed $200 Million Under New Film Strategy
- 10.28.24 Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Could Hit 2,000+ IMAX Screens in Netflix’s Potential Theater Deal
- 10.30.24 Netflix Considering Thanksgiving 2026 Release for Narnia
Opinions
- 9.21.18 Should Netflix Reboot Narnia? | Talking Beasts
- 9.29.18 The Business Angle of the Narnia-Netflix Deal
- 10.9.18 Netflix is Building a Narnia “Universe” | Talking Beasts
- 3.7.19 Where Netflix’s Narnia Reboot Should Start | Talking Beasts
- 4.17.19 Is Netflix’s Narnia Trying to Be the Next Game of Thrones? | Talking Beasts
- 12.17.19 6 Scenes We Can’t Wait to See in a Narnia Movie Someday |Talking Beasts
- 10.5.20 What the Magic Wardrobe Should Look Like
- 3.7.21 Wishlist for Netflix’s Narnia | Talking Beasts
- 10.7.21 Should the Fans Revolt if Netflix Expands Narnia | Talking Beasts
11.1.22 Netflix Has Changed Since Acquiring Narnia - 12.15.22 Why Netflix Wants Narnia | Talking Beasts
- 7.20.23 Fans React to Greta Gerwig as the Next Narnia Director | Talking Beasts
- 11.14.23 Analysis: Netflix to “Break the Whole Arc” of Narnia Series? | Talking Beasts
- 3.2.24 “The First Book” And Other Matters | Talking Beasts
- 6.9.24 Lights, Camera, Caution: The Feasibility of Back-to-Back Filming for Netflix’s Narnia
- 7.7.24 6 Scenes We Can’t Wait to See in a Narnia Movie Someday
- 11.6.24 Should Netflix Bring Narnia Back to the Big Screen? | Talking Beasts