Gerwig Adds to ‘Narnia’ Cast and Crew
Door Jam: Feb. 9, 2025
The Door Jam is a place to squeeze in articles about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their work, and adaptations of their fantasy worlds. Unless otherwise stated, I’m not endorsing (or criticizing) any of these but merely sharing them with you.
While Greta Gerwig’s Magician’s Nephew has finished filming, we are still learning new people who will be in front of and behind the camera.
NarniaWeb is reporting on three actors in the cast: Susan Wokoma, Gerard Monaco, and James Murray. It’s worth noting that all three have already played roles in major Netflix projects.
Wokoma is a British actress, writer, and director of Nigerian descent. She is best known for her role as Edith in Netflix’s Enola Holmes franchise. In 2017, Wokoma was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and to Europe’s Forbes 30 Under 30.
Monaco has appeared in television and films for more than 20 years, including stops in the Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises. Recently, the British actor was in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem.
Murray is an English actor, artist, and activist. While he has some film credits, he is primarily a TV actor, appearing in shows in both the U.K. and U.S., perhaps most famously as Prince Andrew in Netflix’s The Crown.
Nothing is yet known about their roles. They could be minor characters. Wokoma does have voice acting experience, so she could be one of the talking animals in Narnia.
Additionally, NarniaWeb reported that Andrew Weisblum will be an editor on Magician’s Nephew. He was photographed sitting beside Gerwig during the first day of public filming.
Weisblum has been a film editor for more than two decades, most frequently with Darren Aronofsky and Wes Anderson. He was nominated twice for an Academy Award in Best Film Editing for Black Swan (2010) and Tick, Tick … Boom! (2021) and has been involved in numerous other award-winning films.
One potentially troubling sign comes from a recent interview NarniaWeb reported on in which Weisblum seemed to be talking about his work on Narnia:
And right now, I’m working on a film that’s very well, the source material is very well known. Once again, I’m choosing not to refer back to that material because we’re doing our own take on it. You know, we did our own take on that.
It’s not definitely required for the editor to know the book from which a movie is being adapted. As long as people like the screenwriter and director know the source material and want to honor it, the editor can simply tell the best story from the book-faithful material.
Having said that, I’m still nervous about the repeated refrain of “doing our own take on it.” Every adaptation is, in some way, the take of the adapter, but a successful adaptation magnifies the spirit of the text, even if it places the story in a different context.
Gerwig has assembled a talented cast and crew. I doubt she will make a bad movie. The only question is whether she will make a good Narnia adaptation.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they already have it.
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
God in the Dock may be my favorite Lewis book. It is certainly my most underappreciated. The collection of essays demonstrates his unparalleled wisdom and insight into the Christian faith and the world around him. I own a paperback copy that I’ve reread multiple times and an ebook version that allows me to search for topics in the text.
God in the Dock — ebook: $1.99 (87% off), paperback: $15.06 (25% off)
Also, as part of my growing Narnia research library, I bought Tales Before Narnia: The Roots of Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction ebook this week since it went on sale. It had been $7.99 and dropped to $4.99.
If you are looking to read a little Lewis every day in 2026, two daily reading books are on sale:
A Year with C. S. Lewis, A: Daily Readings from His Classic Works — ebook: $9.99 (47% off)
A Year with Aslan: Daily Reflections from The Chronicles of Narnia — ebook: $4.99 (63% off)
More books on sale:
The Dark Tower and Other Stories by C.S. Lewis — ebook: $1.99 (85% off)
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis — ebook: $1.99 (85% off)
The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis — ebook: $4.99 (33% off)
The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others’ Eyes — ebook: $1.99 (87% off)
The Problem of Printers
Bad but unfortunately real C.S. Lewis book covers
This is the book cover you designed in the early 90s … in Microsoft Word … having never read the book.
Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
More sites discuss Narnia’s filming wrap
Reality TV family discusses reading C.S. Lewis
Reading Rainbow host is a big Narnia fan
Ian McKellen can’t help spoiling franchise movies
What the Lord of the Rings rerelease success says about the box office
And more!
