Gerwig Goes Practical With ‘Narnia’ Effects
Door Jam: March 2, 2026
If you’ve been waiting for some good news about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, you’re in luck. NarniaWeb reports that the production employed numerous individuals involved in practical effects.
Academy-award winner Neal Scanlan was overseeing the film’s creature effects. Scanlan won an Oscar for his visual effects work on Babe. He was also one of the founding members of the Jim Henson Creature Shop.
Since then, he has done creature work on big blockbuster films, including entries in the Star Wars and Jurassic World franchises. He brought over many of the visual effects artists from those movies to help with Narnia.
Additionally, Narnia employed animal wranglers and used live animals on set. This seems to be more than just the horse that was already seen on location in London with Jadis’ stunt double.
From NarniaWeb:
Furthermore, numerous performers attached to the production have prior experience in dance, expressive movement, and performance capture roles, suggesting that a wide variety of techniques are being employed to bring the world of Narnia and its animal inhabitants to life.
Obviously, CGI will be involved. It should be for this type of film. But I’m thankful, Gerwig and the other filmmakers seemingly sought out experts in practical, in-camera effects.
Here’s hoping we continue receiving good news about Narnia in the coming weeks.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
Once you have made the World an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man, and it makes very little difference what kind of worldly end he is pursuing.
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
This 75th anniversary edition of The Hobbit includes audio/video components with the ebook.
The Hobbit (ebook) by J.R.R. Tolkien: $1.99 (83% off)
Letters From Father Christmas (ebook) by J.R.R. Tolkien: $1.99 (83% off)
Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
Carey Mulligan shares about her Narnia filming experience
An upcoming series highlighting Lewis and Tolkien’s friendship
Lewis’ prophetic warning
Cate Blanchett almost played a second Middle-earth character
Why Tolkien refused a Disney adaptation of his work
An unfinished Tolkien work that fictionalizes the Inklings
And more!
