Why Is Greta Gerwig Starting Netflix’s Narnia Franchise with 'The Magician’s Nephew'?
By Elliot Lines - October 14, 2026
In 2018, Netflix announced it had struck a deal to develop adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia — This didn’t come as a massive surprise given the growing appetite for reboots and familiar franchises. But, with the previous Chronicles of Narnia trilogy having only begun in 2005 with the successful The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, followed by the less successful sequels Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010), the news felt slightly premature. What mattered now, who was going to direct it? Who was going to star in it? And when was it going to hit our screens?
In steps, Greta Gerwig. It was first reported in 2022 that Gerwig was being considered to direct two films, and in July 2023, the Barbie director’s involvement was officially confirmed. With plans to write and direct two films, Gerwig had actually been discussing Narnia with Netflix as far back as 2019, long before Barbie became a global phenomenon. The Magician’s Nephew isn't simply Gerwig's next project following Barbie's success, but a passion project that has been taking shape for several years.
With the first trailer for The Magician’s Nephew now here, we take a look at the director’s decision to start at the beginning, the history of C.S. Lewis’ beloved novels and whether this will be the start of a new Narnia franchise.
Why Is Greta Gerwig Starting with The Magician’s Nephew?
Gerwig’s decision to make The Magician’s Nephew the starting point may be a surprising choice, but it's a welcome one in an age of remakes. The easy option would have been the well-known The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which you could only imagine would attract a large audience. Instead, Gerwig has opted for the less familiar sixth published book, taking a different approach to a franchise that audiences have already seen brought to the big screen.
There’s a clear benefit to The Magician’s Nephew being the starting point: no previous knowledge of the franchise is required. Although it may be the sixth published book in the series, it tells the story of Narnia's origins, allowing audiences to discover the world from its very creation. For a new generation unfamiliar with C.S. Lewis' fantasy world, this could prove to be an ideal introduction, while offering long time fans an opportunity to experience Narnia from a different perspective.
Gerwig herself has explained the reasoning behind her decision, telling Empire in its November 2026 issue, “I think you should start with The Magician’s Nephew because that’s the creation of the universe.” Rather than simply revisiting familiar territory, the director appears keen to explore the fantasy world from its very beginnings, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a side of Narnia that has never previously been adapted for the big screen.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Should You Read the Books in Publication or Chronological Order?
Over the space of six years, C.S. Lewis released seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia series. However, the stories weren’t published in chronological order, sparking a long-running debate over which order the books should be read.
Publication Order:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
The Silver Chair (1953)
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
The Magician's Nephew (1955)
The Last Battle (1956)
Chronological Order:
The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
The Silver Chair (1953)
The Last Battle (1956)
Following Lewis’ death, British editions of The Chronicles of Narnia began adopting the chronological order, starting with The Magician’s Nephew. Both orders remained in print until HarperCollins took over publishing and established the chronological order as the worldwide standard. However, on the official C.S. Lewis website, Dr. Charlie W. Starr argues that “Lewis scholars almost universally agree” that the original publication order is superior.
Much like the age-old Star Wars debate, there is a decision to be made: experience the stories in the order they were originally released, or follow them chronologically. With Gerwig opting for the latter, the decision is likely to spark debate among fans. However, until The Magician’s Nephew arrives and we learn more about the direction of future films, we won't know whether starting at the beginning was the right choice.
Could The Magician’s Nephew Be the Beginning of a New Narnia Franchise?
Netflix’s acquisition of the rights to adapt The Chronicles of Narnia is a clear indication that the streaming giant sees plenty of potential in the franchise, and much like Amazon’s investment in The Lord of the Rings and HBO’s in Harry Potter, I imagine they'll be looking to make the most of it. For now, we only have confirmation of two films, but in the hands of an accomplished director such as Greta Gerwig, there is an opportunity to lay strong foundations for Narnia content for years to come.
Don’t expect things to end after just two films. As anyone familiar with the current film and TV landscape knows, successful franchises rarely stop at their initial plans. Whether that means spin-offs, television series or further films remains to be seen, but if The Magician’s Nephew proves successful, you can almost guarantee Netflix will be eager to explore more of Lewis’ fantasy world.
If you want to keep up to date with Narnia: The Magician's Nephew developments, keep it locked to Film Focus Online.
Elliot Lines
Founder - Lead Editor
Elliot loves to surround himself with all things movies. Whether that be his movie related LEGO collection or enough Blu-rays to restart blockbuster.
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