The White Witch Rides in London
Door Jam: August 26, 2025
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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.
We get our first look at Jadis the White Witch terrorizing the streets of London with photos and video from the Narnia set. With the film seemingly being set in the 1950s, what does that mean for the iconic lamp post she accidentally “plants” in Narnia?
As Greta Gerwig films more on the streets of London for her Narnia adaptation, we’ve gotten additional looks at the locations, but also of “Jadis.” To be clear, this is the stunt double of Emma Mackey, who is portraying Jadis. UnBoxPHD has numerous other photos on their Twitter account and has posted a video as well.
NarniaWeb has also obtained some photos and video from the set.
The latest batch of images seem to be from the moment in The Magician’s Nephew when Digory and Polly accidentally bring Jadis to London. She goes rampaging through the streets before they transport her back to the Wood Between the Worlds. This eventually leads to Jadis, the two kids, Uncle Andrew, Frank the cabby, and his horse Strawberry arriving as Aslan creates Narnia.
Obviously what stands out in these set photos is Jadis’ shiny metallic outfit. That could be something from Charn. Gerwig may be leaning into a futuristic aesthetic for what is an entirely different world. It could also be something Jadis constructs in our world as makeshift armor.
As many concerns as this may spark, we should keep in mind that this is a scene featuring stunt doubles (and a dummy in some cases). It’s not meant to be seen up close and will undergo extensive visual effects before appearing on screen.
My eyes couldn’t help but also notice the lamp post in the set photo. The seeming change from 1900 to 1955 raises some interesting questions about that famous Narnia symbol.
While Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus under the lamp post in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew explains why that London lamp post exists in the middle of a Narnian wood. In the books, it was a gas light lamp from 1900. Some have expressed concern that a move to 1955 would change the gas to an electric lamp.
Gas lamps were first used in London in the early 1800s. The iconic cross bar that Jadis ripped off were included on gas lamps to “provide a secure rest for the lamplighters' ladder.” But electric lamps were developed and used as early as the mid-1800s.
The damage from German bombing in World War II expedited the change from gas to electric. But according to British lighting company William Sugg, that transition lasted until the late 1960s. Even if Gerwig has Jadis invade 1955 London, it is conceivable she could still find a gas lamp to destroy and carry with her to Narnia.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.
Tumnus’ bookshelf
Books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
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Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
Below, paid subscribers will see more images and video from the Narnia set, other thoughts and opinions about Gerwig’s adaptation, Lewis’ Ransom trilogy making a must-read list, drawing from Lewis on U.K.’s recent legislation on abortion and euthanasia, World War I’s impact on both Lewis and Tolkien, tech companies once again turning to Tolkien for the most anti-Tolkien ideas, more cast announcements from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the Harry Potter series, as well as video from the Harry Potter set, and more.
