Aiming for faithful reproduction of the original
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| Image Credit: rogiro / Remixed by THE RIVER |
A re-filming project of the "Chronicles of Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis, directed by Greta Gerwig of "Barbie" (2023), is underway at Netflix. Several new pieces of information, including the release date, have been revealed about this project, the details of which are still being kept secret. According to a report by Bloomberg, the film is aiming for a December 2026 release, and director Gerwig is continuing negotiations for a theatrical release in IMAX. Meanwhile, Netflix is exploring ways to make IMAX screenings possible, while being careful not to set a precedent for other filmmakers.
It has also been pointed out that most Netflix films are not suitable for IMAX, since IMAX screenings are usually limited to films that meet certain technical and production conditions. In an interview with TIME, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos also mentioned the direction of the re-filming. "It's not against what people have imagined, but it's bigger and bolder than they've ever imagined," he said, emphasizing that the film will be "rooted in faith" just like the original novel. Director Gerwig also said she is committed to staying faithful to the original.
"The film is connected to English folklore and fairy tales, but it's also a fusion of different traditions," she said and spoke about the unique worldview: "As a child, you accept the world as it is -- as a resident of Narnia, there are fans, there is Santa Claus. You don't think that this is not systematic. I'm interested in accepting the paradoxes of the world that Lewis created. That's what makes it so fascinating." The Chronicles of Narnia series, which consists of seven books, is set in the magical land of Narnia created by the lion creator Aslan and tells the story of the Pevensie siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they travel between the other world and the real world to fulfill their destinies.
There have been three previous live-action film adaptations: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2006), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). It has not been revealed which story will be adapted, but it is reportedly possible that the film will be a "prequel" based on the sixth book in the series, The Magician's Nephew, which depicts the early days of Narnia.