Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ First Look Reveals Unique Netflix Experience

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
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Netflix has been expanding its film division for years, yet it has typically maintained a careful distance from conventional wide theatrical releases. The platform usually opts to send most of its major titles directly to streaming, resulting in its rare theatrical endeavors feeling like true events.

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s cherished Narnia series has been in development for several years, with Netflix acquiring the rights to the book series back in 2018. This film adapts ‘The Magician’s Nephew,’ the origin story detailing the creation of Narnia, marking the first screen adaptation of this particular novel, following a trilogy of earlier Narnia films produced by Walden Media.

Netflix has now unveiled a new first look at the film, confirming that ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ will premiere in theaters worldwide, including IMAX, on February 12, 2027, before it becomes available on Netflix on April 2, 2027. This announcement positions the release as a genuine cinematic event, aimed at matching the scale and multi-generational fanbase surrounding Lewis’s original works.

This theatrical initiative marks a significant first for the streaming giant. The film is set to be Netflix’s inaugural wide theatrical release and its first to enjoy a full 45-day exclusive theatrical window, representing a notable shift from the platform’s historically cautious approach to providing its original films with extended time on the big screen before they transition to streaming.

The film features newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell in the lead roles of Diggory and Polly, alongside an ensemble cast that includes Emma Mackey as Jadis, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, and supporting roles from Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep. Mark Ronson, who previously collaborated with Gerwig on ‘Barbie,’ returns to score the film alongside Andrew Wyatt.

The release date itself signifies a notable change from the film’s initial plans. ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ was originally set for a Thanksgiving 2026 release exclusively in IMAX, but the date was pushed to February 2027 due to a cast member’s injury that delayed production by six weeks. This adjustment has allowed Netflix to broaden the release into a full theatrical window that Gerwig envisioned from the beginning.

IMAX has expressed enthusiasm about the decision to proceed with the expanded release, emphasizing its eagerness to help bring Gerwig’s vision to life on the big screen. As Netflix continues to explore theatrical distribution following the success of last year’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ sing-along screenings, ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ appears poised to become one of the streamer’s most significant theatrical ventures to date.

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