Narnia, Greta Gerwig Moves Story to the Fifties

Greta Gerwig has moved Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew to the 1950s. This is what emerges from the first images of the new Netflix film, which show a different era from that of C.S. Lewis's novel, set in late 19th-century London.

The change does not only concern the production's appearance. The Magician's Nephew tells the story of Narnia's birth through the adventure of Digory and Polly, two children who come into contact with other worlds thanks to their Uncle Andrew's magic rings. Their journey leads to an encounter with Aslan and the awakening of Jadis, destined to become the White Witch.

Gerwig's Choice Changes Narnia's Chronology

The temporal shift could also have consequences for the potential cinematic continuation of the saga. If Netflix decides to adapt The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, that story would also have to be re-situated relative to the original chronology.

Gerwig has explained that she knows Lewis's universe very well, having grown up with his books alongside Little Women. For the director, one of the most fascinating aspects of Narnia is precisely its ability to combine fairy-tale elements from different traditions. The film will arrive in US IMAX theaters on February 10, 2027, and the following day in Italy. It will be available on Netflix from early April.