Greta Gerwig’s first installment in Netflix’s reboot ofThe Chronicles of Narniais set to arrive in theaters for the 2026 holiday season, although it will not be the particular chapter best suited for this date.Narniahas been steadily garnering attention with the announcements of the director and cast members, building hype even with the release date still far in the future.
So far,Netflix’sNarniais confirmed to starBarbie’s Emma Mackey as the White WitchandMaestro’s Carey Mulligan as Mrs. Kirke, while Daniel Craig is rumored to be Uncle Andrew and Meryl Streep a gender-swapped Aslan. Meanwhile,there is no word yet on who will play Digory Kirke or Polly Plummer,to be Gerwig’s first child heroes of Narnia.
Like some othernot-exactly Christmas movies,Narniais a children’s fantasy staple that offers a certain whimsical, heartwarming, and occasionally snowy magic that is always suitable for holiday watch parties.However, thebestNarniabook, which leans into these vibes most heavily, is not the one coming out in time for Christmas next year.
Narnia’s Release Date Would Be Even Better For The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
The Narnia Installment With Lots Of Snow & A Major Christmas Moment
Greta Gerwig’sNarnia’s release date of Thanksgiving Day 2026 would be better for a new movie adaptation ofThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, rather thanThe Magician’s Nephew, which is the first publishedNarniabook’s prequel. Although the snowy landscape of Narnia is the result of the villain’s power, it has always been an uplifting visual.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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The Horse and His Boy
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While spring comes partway throughThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,it is natural to first think of Lucy finding the wonderful Narnia covered in snow, and therefore wintertime.The characters also briefly celebrate Christmas when Father Christmas is able to return to Narnia as a result of the White Witch’s waning power.
The brief Christmas festivities, though they may not be the main event of the story, are exactly what also makesHarry Potterpopular for Christmastime. On the other hand,The Magician’s Nephewlacks this iconography, meaning it won’t reap the same benefits by evoking the holiday spiritthat people will already be experiencing around the time of its release.
Why Is Gerwig’s Narnia Beginning With The Magician’s Nephew?
This Is Ultimately The Best Option For Starting A New Series
However,Gerwig beginning withThe Magician’s Nephewis a strategic choicefor the new movie series.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeis often considered the bestNarniainstallment (certainly the case with the movies of the 2000s), and the Pevensie siblings are the series' most famous characters.
If Gerwig started again withThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, not only would her project be compared to the very well-received 2005 movie, but the series from there would be an uphill battle of trying to match the first movie and failing.The Magician’s Nephewallows her a clean slate to tell a new story on her own termsbefore revisiting the Pevensies.
The Magician’s Nephewis still a highly anticipated major fantasy release that could do well in cinemas during the holiday season. And, presumably, Gerwig will tackle the firstThe Chronicles of Narnianovel next, which could also get a holiday release in future years, and perhaps see an even bigger turnout.
