Are They the New Digory and Polly?
Door Jam: August 18, 2025
Our C.S. Lewis read-along of The Horse and His Boy just started. Our chapter one discussion this week will only be available in full for paid subscribers. So more of you can join our adventure to Narnia and the North, here’s a discount code for an annual subscription. But it expires soon.
The Door Jam is a place to squeeze in articles about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their work, adaptations of their fantasy worlds, news from other franchises, and interesting articles. Unless otherwise stated, I’m not endorsing (or criticizing) any of these but merely sharing them with you.
Despite filming out on the streets of London, Greta Gerwig and Netflix remain tight-lipped about much of the film, including the young duo who seem to be the leads of the movie.
It seems strange that while Gerwig has begun filming her Narnia adaptation, we haven’t officially been told which book she’s adapting. Everything has pointed to this being The Magician’s Nephew, but Netflix hasn’t confirmed that. Now, eagle-eyed visitors to the set have spotted two young kids who most likely are playing Digory and Polly, but again, there has been no official announcement.
What’s On Netflix has identified the two children as David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell and surmised that they will be the leads of the film. David has appeared in BBC’s Lord of the Flies and numerous musicals, while Beatrice has been a part of Disney+’s TV series The Stolen Girl and Wes Anderson’s movie The Phoenician’s Scheme.
The Netflix-centric website also has numerous images from the Narnia set, including several shots of Gerwig directing.1
While we knew last week that portion of the film would be set in 1955, the presence of the two leads on that 1950s set, along with additional images seemingly showing stunt doubles for Digory and Jadis on horseback on the same set, would seem to indicate a time jump for the whole movie. Instead of taking place in 1900, Polly and Digory would enter Narnia in 1955.2
This would be a significant departure from the books, not only for The Magician’s Nephew, but for the entire series. If the chronology is kept the same, this would push The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe into the ’90s or early 2000s. In a sense, however, this would keep one line from Magician’s Nephew accurate for current children: “This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child.”
NarniaWeb has 10 considerations based on what we’ve seen so far on set. But again, everything is speculation until Netflix or Gerwig confirms it or at least one of the major Hollywood trade publications reports it as fact.
As someone who had high hopes based on what Gerwig was saying about reading Lewis and quoting his thoughts on enchantment, I had high hopes. I will admit that those hopes have dimmed based on the rumors and speculation we’ve gotten so far. I’m still holding out hope, but it’s more anxious than optimistic at the moment.
Sources:
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
At present, we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
To my shame, I only recently finished Pilgrim’s Regress. It did not jump to the top of my favorite Lewis works, but it is one of the most important. Much like reading his letters, you see early versions of so many of Lewis’ insights that he developed further in later books. If you, like me, had not prioritized this book, I’d encourage you to make the time to read it.
Pilgrim’s Regress (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $1.99 (-73%), paperback $14.21
Other books on sale:
The Four Loves (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $1.99 (-85%), paperback $14.18 (-21%)
Letters to Malcom, Chiefly on Prayer (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $1.99 (-86%), paperback $11.19 (-30%)
Image and Imagination (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $1.99 (-81%), paperback $17.22 (-31%)
Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
Below, paid subscribers will find video from the Netflix Narnia set, a reflection on Lewis’ cure for modern ills of isolation and disenchantment, two pieces drawing on his writing to respond to the problem of evil, remembering Lewis the broadcaster, Lord of the Rings memorabilia selling for almost $4,000, more stars possibly returning for The Hunt for Gollum, another scientific discovery drawing its names from Middle-earth, and more.
