A new film adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew is officially moving forward, with Netflix confirming an ambitious global release strategy for the project. The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, is set to debut in IMAX and wide cinemas worldwide on 12th February 2027, ahead of its streaming launch on Netflix on 2nd April 2027. Exclusive IMAX preview screenings are also planned from 10th February.
The project marks the first time The Magician’s Nephew has been adapted for either film or television, despite being a key entry in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Originally published in 1955, the story serves as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, detailing the origins of Narnia itself.
Gerwig has both written and directed the film, bringing a deeply personal connection to the material. In a statement, the filmmaker reflected on her childhood love of the novel and its lasting influence on her imagination, describing the opportunity to bring Narnia to life as “the honour of a lifetime.” She also highlighted the importance of working with IMAX to deliver the film’s visual scope, suggesting a production designed to fully embrace the epic scale of Lewis’s world.
The story follows Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two children drawn into a series of otherworldly adventures through magical rings. Their journey ultimately leads to the creation of Narnia itself, where the lion Aslan sings the world into existence while an evil sorceress threatens to corrupt it. The film’s focus on this origin story offers a fresh starting point for audiences, distinct from previous adaptations.
Casting for the project combines emerging talent with established names. Newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell are set to take on the central roles, joined by a high-profile ensemble that includes Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep.
While The Magician’s Nephew has never been adapted for the screen before, it has seen previous stage adaptations, including a 2022 production by Gallery 7. Interestingly, although the novel is often considered the first book in the Narnia timeline, it was actually the final volume completed by Lewis, written between 1949 and 1954.
Earlier attempts to bring Narnia to the big screen were led by Walt Disney Pictures, which released The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). While the first film proved a major success, the series struggled to maintain consistent box office returns, and plans to adapt the remaining books were ultimately abandoned.
Netflix’s approach suggests a more long-term vision for the franchise. By starting with the origin of Narnia, the studio appears to be laying the groundwork for a cohesive adaptation of the entire series, something that has yet to be fully realised on screen.
With a major director at the helm, a high-profile cast, and a global theatrical rollout planned ahead of its streaming debut, The Magician’s Nephew could mark the beginning of a new era for Narnia on screen. If successful, it may finally open the door for all seven books in Lewis’s series to be adapted for a new generation of audiences.
