Latest on Netflix’s Narnia Reveal
Door Jam: May 4, 2026
As I shared in the breaking news post on Friday evening, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will get a wide, 45-day theatrical release beginning on February 12, 2027, before heading to Netflix on April 2, 2027.
Previously, the film was said to be debuting only on IMAX the week of Thanksgiving 2026 and then moving to streaming around Christmas.
Deadline reported that this move came about because an injury to a movie star pushed back production, which means the film wouldn’t make its Thanksgiving IMAX time slot. “It was always Plan B,” according to Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline’s box office editor.
A production delay could cause a premiere shift, but would seemingly not require a strategy change. Netflix could’ve moved to February and kept the same plan for a limited IMAX run and quick move to streaming.
Thoughts and Spoilers also notes that an interesting facet of the new release date is that it coincides with the other major Christian holiday—from Christmas to Easter.
The film’s new release plan basically coincides with Western Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on February 10—the day of Narnia’s IMAX previews—and ends with Easter Sunday on March 28, five days before the film starts streaming.
Thoughts and Spoilers also notes that Narnia will coincide with the theatrical releases of The Chosen: Crucifixion (March 12) and The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One (March 26). Both films also reportedly feature a flashback to the creation story, the core narrative of The Magician’s Nephew.
The Netflix release not only gave us release dates, but it also listed 10 actors and actresses appearing in the movie. Netflix’s wording and industry reporting have essentially confirmed some of their roles. Other roles are still rumored.
David McKenna (Digory Kirke, confirmed)
Beatrice Campbell (Polly Plummer, confirmed)
Emma Mackey (Queen Jadis of Charn/White Witch, confirmed)
Carey Mulligan (Digory’s mother, Mabel Kirke, all-but-confirmed)
Ciarán Hinds (Unknown)
Daniel Craig (Uncle Andrew, all-but-confirmed)
Meryl Streep (Voice of Aslan, strongly rumored)
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Cabby/King Frank, rumored)
Denise Gough (Aunt Letty, rumored)
Susan Wokoma (Queen Helen, rumored)
Other rumored cast members include Tom Bonington (a character named Mr. Potts), Samantha Spiro (a beaver), Gerard Monaco (unknown), and James Murray (unknown).
Netflix’s announcement was the first time the Belfast-born Hinds had been publicly linked to the project. With his Narnia appearance, he will have been involved in four major fantasy franchises—Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Middle-earth, and now Narnia.
It’s possible Hinds could be an older Digory Kirke who appears as a framing device for this film, before returning in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.1
The only semi-major speaking role from the book that has not been linked to anyone yet is Strawberry, the cabby’s horse, who [spoiler alert for a book published 70 years ago] becomes Fledge, a talking pegasus in Narnia.
Could Hinds be Fledge? Could Streep be Fledge and the deep-voiced Hinds Aslan? Maybe Streep is Aunt Letty, Gough is Fledge, and Hinds is Aslan.2
Fledge is a male horse in the book, but I imagine Narnia fans, myself included, would take a gender-swapped Fledge over Aslan.
With Netflix finally acknowledging the film officially, hopefully, we will start to find out more soon. They’ve already started the marketing push, which we’ll talk about in the paid-subscriber section.
Sources:
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
If few can give good advice, fewer still can hear with patience advice either good or bad.
October, 3, 1953 letter to Mrs. Van Deusen, The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 3: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy, 1950-1963
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
C.S. Lewis On Writing (and Writers): A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions — $1.99 (79% off)
Other books on sale:
Tales Before Narnia: The Roots of Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction — $8.99 (18% off)
Behind the Wardrobe
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A producer discusses whether AI was used on Narnia
Narnia marketing material has already been sent to a few lucky recipients
Viggo Mortensen reacts to new Aragorn actor
Ana Taylor-Joy rumored role in Hunt for Gollum
Scenes from a road trip through Middle-earth in New Zealand
Tolkien claims mantle with most streamed audiobook of all time
And more!
