‘Narnia’ Cast Continues to Take Shape
Door Jam: March 30, 2026
Despite the tight secrecy surrounding Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, some bits of news dribble out of the production—often thanks to NarniaWeb’s sources.
In their latest reporting, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith was cast in an unconfirmed role. The Ghanaian-born British actor has been involved in major cinematic franchises, Doctor Strange in Marvel, Justice League in DC, Mary Poppins Returns, and, perhaps most importantly, Paddington 2.
Holdbrook-Smith has also appeared in numerous television and theater shows. He appeared on stage in Hamlet opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. In 2019, he won the Laurence Olivier Award as the Best Actor in a Musical for Ike Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
His casting has not yet been confirmed by the production or any major trade publication, so his role remains unknown. From NarniaWeb:
Details of his character in The Magician’s Nephew are being kept under wraps, although NarniaWeb did first hear of his involvement before filming wrapped in January. Representatives for Holdbrook-Smith did not respond to requests for comment, and Netflix declined to comment.
The rumor, however, is that he will be Frank the cabby, future first king of Narnia, opposite Susan Wokoma as Queen Helen.
Repeating my comments at the time of the Wokoma rumors, Holdbrook-Smith as King Frank would be a deviation from Pauline Baynes’ illustration, but not necessarily Lewis’s text. The cabby is merely called “red-faced” when we first meet him running to catch up with his horse that Jadis has taken.
One physical change could be that Holdbrook-Smith seems to have a more slender build than the cabby, who is described as thicker than Uncle Andrew. But nothing about the character requires him to have a specific look.
According to the story, the longer Frank is in Narnia, the more he transitions from a rough London cabman into a gentler countryman, so the actor would need to be able to capture both looks. He also has a nice singing voice. Having performed in musicals on stage, I think Holdbrook-Smith would have that part down.
While we have a few adult actors and the two young leads confirmed, it appears there will also be dozens of children in the movie. NarniaWeb is reporting that the Narnia movie has had over 150 children involved in production, including extras, body doubles, and stand-ins.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
Some people seem to think that I began by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument; then collected information about child-psychology and decided what age-group I’d write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out “allegories” to embody them. This is all pure moonshine. I couldn’t write in that way at all. Everything began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion. At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord.
“Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What’s to Be Said” in Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
Don’t miss the announcement of the winning quote in the 2026 Narnia Madness this Wednesday, along with the winners of the free books and paid subscriptions.
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
Lewis’ academic magnus opus, English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, gives insight into the leading authors from the Norman Conquest through the mid-seventeenth century, including Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, William Tyndale, John Knox, John Donne, and Thomas Cranmer.
English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (ebook) — $1.99 (85% off)
Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
Project Hail Mary features the work of a major Narnia movie contributor
Narnia has company from another major fantasy franchise on Christmas Day
Comedian set to write a Lord of the Rings movie script
Explaining the timelines of the upcoming Middle-earth movies
An ignorant Tolkien take that dominated social media
And more!
