Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew to release in theatres first: OTT date, cast and plot details

Greta Gerwig is bringing C.S. Lewis’ magical universe back to the screen with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, a Netflix-backed fantasy film planned for a major theatrical release before its streaming debut. The filmmaker has offered a first look at the adaptation, which promises an expansive visual experience designed for IMAX screens. With a reported $280 million budget, a story tracing Narnia’s origins and Meryl Streep voicing the lion Aslan, the film is already drawing attention ahead of its February theatrical opening and April OTT release.

When and where to watch Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew on OTT

Netflix is taking an unusual route with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by giving the film a wide theatrical release before bringing it to its streaming platform. The movie is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on February 12, followed by its Netflix premiere on April 2.

The strategy marks a notable shift for the streaming company, which is positioning the fantasy adventure as a big-screen spectacle rather than sending it directly to its digital audience. The film’s IMAX presentation is central to that approach. Gerwig unveiled the first look, trailer and behind-the-scenes footage at the AMC Lincoln Center in New York, presenting the material on an IMAX screen, reported AP news. The preview offered audiences an early glimpse of the scale of the production and its interpretation of Lewis’ beloved fantasy world.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)

What is Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew about?

Rather than beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the story travels further back into the fictional world’s history. The Magician’s Nephew was published in 1955 and is the sixth book in the original Chronicles of Narnia publication order, though it serves as a prequel.

The narrative follows two children living in London in 1900. Their lives take an extraordinary turn when a magical ring transports them to another world, where they witness the creation of Narnia by Aslan, the great lion. The trailer teases the film’s central mystery with the question, “Have you ever seen a world born?” The idea of exploring Narnia at the moment of its creation was a key attraction for Gerwig.

The film is based on the work of C.S. Lewis, the British Christian author whose seven-book Narnia series combines fantasy, adventure and religious allegory.

Meryl Streep to voice Aslan, casting sparks discussion

One of the film’s most talked-about casting decisions is Meryl Streep lending her voice to Aslan. The Oscar-winning actor will voice the lion, a central figure in Lewis’ fictional universe. The choice has prompted questions from some because Aslan is widely interpreted as a literary representation of Jesus Christ in the Narnia books. Lewis’ stories portray the character as male, complete with a magnificent mane, making the decision to cast a female voice actor a point of discussion, reported AP news.

Greta Gerwig’s journey from indie films to fantasy spectacle

Greta Celeste Gerwig, is an American actor and filmmaker who began her career in independent cinema. She worked with Joe Swanberg on films including Hannah Takes the Stairs and Nights and Weekends. She has also collaborated extensively with her husband, filmmaker Noah Baumbach. Their projects include Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise. Her work on Frances Ha earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.

As an actor, Gerwig has appeared in films by several acclaimed directors, including Whit Stillman’s Damsels in Distress, Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love, Rebecca Miller’s Maggie’s Plan, Pablo Larraín’s Jackie, Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women and Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs.

Her career as a solo filmmaker brought wider recognition with Lady Bird in 2017 and Little Women in 2019. Both films, along with her 2023 fantasy comedy Barbie, received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture. Gerwig earned Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Lady Bird, followed by a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Little Women. With Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, she is turning to a large-scale fantasy adaptation, bringing together Lewis’ literary world and Netflix’s ambitious big-screen plans.

Why Netflix’s Narnia film is attracting attention

With a reported budget of $280 million, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew ranks among Netflix’s most ambitious productions. Its prequel storyline offers a different entry point into the franchise, while the planned theatrical window signals the company’s intention to showcase the film on cinema screens before its streaming release.

The New Yorker reported in July 2023 that Gerwig had been hired by Netflix to write and direct two adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series. The Magician’s Nephew is part of that broader project, placing the origins of the fantasy world at the centre of the new film.