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Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot Starts With The Sixth Book for a Fresh, Bold Take

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It might come as a shock to some viewers that the reboot of “The Chronicles of Narnia” is kicking off with “The Magician’s Nephew,” which was the sixth book published in the series, but this move by the studio is strategic. Netflix announced in 2023 that Greta Gerwig would be penning and directing at least two movies for their “Narnia” reboot, following her success with “Barbie.” Over the past few months, there have been whispers of casting choices and formal confirmations regarding Gerwig’s first “Narnia” film.

Recently, there has been confirmation that Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan will portray Digory’s mother in the upcoming Narnia adaptation, indicating that Greta Gerwig and Netflix are adapting The Magician’s Nephew first. This is significant because Digory’s mother only appears in this book. Previous rumors suggested that Daniel Craig might play Uncle Andrew, one of the villains from the story. Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe may be remembered as the initial Narnia installment, starting with The Magician’s Nephew is likely to provide a stronger foundation for the developing movie series.

Magician’s Nephew Is The First Book In Narnia Chronologically, Even Though It Was The 6th Released

The Magician’s Nephew Is The Prequel To The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

In a subsequent sequence of events in the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis penned “The Magician’s Nephew” – a tale that predated the adventures of the Pevensie family and was published as the sixth book. It was with “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” that Lewis initially introduced readers to the enchanted land of Narnia, narrating the escapades of the Pevensie siblings who, under the tutelage of the enigmatic Professor Digory Kirke, stumbled upon a gateway to this magical realm hidden within his home. What “The Magician’s Nephew” unveiled was that young Digory had already visited Narnia himself, accompanied by his friend Polly Plummer.

The Chronicles Of Narnia Book Chronological Order Publication Year
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2 1950
Prince Caspian 4 1951
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 5 1952
The Silver Chair 6 1953
The Horse and His Boy 3 1954
The Magician’s Nephew 1 1955
The Last Battle 7 1956

In “The Magician’s Nephew,” C.S. Lewis introduces some backstory elements essential for understanding Narnia, including its creation, the arrival of the White Witch, Jadis, and how Digory acquired the enchanted wardrobe. Reading this novel first offers a coherent sequence in the narrative, potentially preventing confusion if Netflix were to produce prequels later on. Following the publication of four books featuring the Pevensie family and their cousin Eustace, Lewis penned “The Horse and His Boy” and “The Magician’s Nephew,” before returning to continue the main storyline with “The Last Battle.

Greta Gerwig Remaking The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe Could Be Controversial

The Director Would Have An Impossible Time Living Up To 2005’s Narnia Movie

Reframing Narnia for a new generation was never going to be an easy feat, especially starting with a remake of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe immediately. Despite the dwindling box office performance, critical acclaim, and viewer excitement for each subsequent Narnia movie in the 2000s, the first film was an enormous success. This initial installment showcased one of the finest portrayals of a fantasy movie villain ever, with Tilda Swinton’s chilling performance as the White Witch. Liam Neeson also delivered a captivating and mystical portrayal of Aslan. The young cast was well-selected, the design was exquisite, and it effectively conveyed the grandeur of the story.

both versions appear too similar to the original and don’t offer much novelty. This is a common criticism faced by some live-action remakes. The case of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for instance, is problematic because it would be moving from one live-action movie to another without any significant changes. Given that the 2005 film remains well-regarded with little room for improvement, a new interpretation by Gerwig might have fallen short in comparison if it had been based on the previous version.

Magician’s Nephew Gives Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot A Fresh Place To Start

New Story, New Actors, New Narnia

In contrast, “The Magician’s Nephew” offers Gerwig and Netflix a solid foundation for their adaptation. Since many viewers are more accustomed to the Narnia movies than the original stories, this will serve as an initial introduction to the series. Essentially, she is telling an untouched story on the big screen, distinct from what other high-budget filmmakers have previously explored. A new take on “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” might have seemed repetitive given the quality of the previous movie, and other Narnia tales haven’t garnered the same level of attention thus far.

The tale of “The Magician’s Nephew” presents a more enigmatic journey compared to its successor, offering Gerwig an alternate mood to work with. This captivating story begins as Uncle Andrew deceives Polly into retrieving a magical ring, which transports her to an unspecified realm (not Narnia). Intriguingly, Digory follows suit and eventually finds himself in a liminal space before discovering another world where the villainous Jadis hails from. Remarkably, they venture here prior to the emergence of Narnia, as it is during their adventure that Aslan creates this fantastical land.

In addition to the familiar elements found in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the story also hints at hidden, ominous forces that create a sense of dread. Andrew mentions learning magic from an elderly woman who could be Morgan le Fay within Narnia, while Jadis boasts about annihilating a world using “the Deplorable Word.” Furthermore, there are religious undertones such as Aslan originating Narnia and Digory plucking an apple from the Tree of Youth. All these elements provide Greta Gerwig with unique, evocative source material to establish her distinctive interpretation of Narnia from the outset.

How Magician’s Nephew Can Set Up The Rest Of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Franchise

The Magician’s Nephew Can Segue Gerwig & Netflix Into Making All 7 Narnia Books

Given the possibility, Gerwig might very well adapt “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” as her second Narnia film. In fact, we can anticipate that Gerwig will infuse her unique style into Narnia, with whispers of Meryl Streep potentially portraying a gender-swapped Aslan. Once Gerwig reveals her interpretation of Narnia, viewers might become more intrigued to see how this approach translates to “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe“, while preserving what made the initial film adaptation of this tale so captivating. Beginning with “The Magician’s Nephew ” could pave the way for long-term franchise strategies in various aspects.

As a long-time admirer of the magical world of Narnia, I must admit that the Pevensie siblings have been my favorite characters since I first stepped into this enchanting realm through “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Re-introducing the story from this beginning would undeniably set a high standard that might be challenging to maintain as the series progresses.

Now, let’s address the not-so-pleasant elephant in the room: the films Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) have left a lot to be desired for many fans, including myself.

Director Greta Gerwig, with her upcoming adaptation of “The Magician’s Nephew,” has a golden opportunity to win back the hearts of Narnia enthusiasts. Once she successfully navigates through this initial hurdle, there might just be a wave of eagerness among fans to see how she breathes new life into those subsequent installments that left us wanting more.

In summary, Digory, along with Polly, returns in the last book of the series and reflects on witnessing both the beginning and end of Narnia. This structure could create a significant impact if adapted for The Last Battle. Given Netflix’s plans to adapt the entire Chronicles of Narnia series, beginning with The Magician’s Nephew seems like an astute decision.

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2025-05-21 18:55

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