First Look at Netflix’s Reimagined Chronicles of Narnia Series Unveiled

We’ve got our first glimpse of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film adaptation of *The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew* for Netflix. The promotional image features Aslan, the iconic talking lion and central figure of the series. This striking portrayal showcases Aslan with heterochromic eyes and a design that blends elements of stitching, Trencadís mosaics, and melted scales.

In exciting news, Meryl Streep has been cast as Aslan. Gerwig shared her vision for the character, stating, “I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight. I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity for fresh wonder, like a child. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.”

Gerwig previously collaborated with Streep on her acclaimed 2019 adaptation of *Little Women*. As for Aslan’s design, the bold red stripes and unique eyes are inspired by David Bowie, a significant creative influence for Gerwig. An additional promotional image has surfaced, showing Aslan in the act of creating Narnia. More updates about the film are expected in the November 2026 issue of a magazine.

Following the cover reveal, Gerwig elaborated on her creative vision, expressing, “I wanted a rock opera. I wanted it to be big and transporting.” She cited British rock music from the ’60s and ’70s as a major inspiration, explaining, “Narnia is literally a world made out of music. It is a world sung to life by Aslan, and rock ’n’ roll to me felt like a world made out of music.” While the film won’t be a musical in the traditional sense, it will draw from that aesthetic.

This adaptation will focus on the sixth book in the series, the 1955 novel *The Magician’s Nephew*. Although it might seem unconventional to start with this book rather than continuing with the fourth and fifth, it is the earliest story chronologically. Gerwig is taking on the roles of director, writer, and co-producer for the film. She has been on a creative roll lately, having directed *Lady Bird*, *Little Women*, and *Barbie* in succession. The cast also includes David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, and Daniel Craig.

Netflix is producing the film, marking its first project to receive a wide theatrical release. It’s set to hit theaters on February 12, 2027, followed by a streaming release on Netflix on April 2, 2027. It’s been over 15 years since the last *Chronicles of Narnia* film, with a trilogy released between 2005 and 2010 that adapted the first three books in the series.