Netflix’sChronicles of Narniamovies might be the most anticipated book adaptations in a long time.The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobewas one of the first movies I clearly remember seeing in theaters. As a child who usually preferred less fantastical worlds, I was still completely sucked in by the story of thePevensie childrenand the snowy alternate world that they inhabited in the first movie. But with the Disney movies,only three of the seven-book series were adapted, ending withThe Voyage of the Dawn Treaderin 2010.
Greta Gerwig is already changing things with her version of the C.S. Lewis books.She is confirmed to direct two movies for Netflix, the first of which will reportedly adaptThe Magician’s Nephew. Published in 1955, this book is the sixth in the original series by publishing order, but as a prequel, it is chronologically the first. It is not confirmed whether Gerwig will continue to makeNarniamoviesafter these first two films, but if she does, there are some concerns about what may happen.
Why Netflix’s Narnia Franchise Could Run Into The 2040s
Major Franchises Usually Release A Movie Every Two Years At Max
If Netflix decides to adapt all seven of theNarniabooks, it is completely possible that the series will run into the 2040s. After all, Gerwig’s adaptation ofThe Magician’s Nephewdoes not come out until at least 2026. In general, even franchises with fast turnarounds can only make movies one every two years, though maintaining this rate could be unrealistic when considering high budgets and the schedules of actors and directors.If it maintained an every-two-years rate, it would end in 2038, but any slight delay could shift things into the 2040s.
There are some ways that Netflix could try to mitigate this elongated approach to the series. Firstly,they could try to film the movies back-to-back, or super close together in some other way. This strategy could allow the streamer to release theNarniamovies in consecutive years, or even multiple in the same year. However, whether they do this is contingent upon how well the adaptations do, and whether Netflix is willing to dedicate that much time and effort to these movies.
As someone who came-of-age alongsideNarnia, I’m also someone who grew up with the first of James Cameron’sAvatarmovies. While it is so exciting to see the Na’vi saga continue as an adult, it presents a clear phenomenon; the first two franchise entries were split between releasing in my childhood versus adulthood. WhileAvatar: The Way of Waterwas still a huge hit, the long gap meant that some original audiences had grown up already. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but nonetheless seems like the unique track thatNarniacould be on.
Netflix Adapting All Seven Narnia Books Poses Multiple Challenges
The Child-Based Cast Is The Biggest Problem
There are several potential hiccups when it comes to adapting all sevenbooks in theNarniaseries. While centuries pass in the land of Narnia, the Earthly timeline for the six books that are notThe Magician’s Nephewspans only nine years in total. Some entries only have a year or two between them. For a series that includes children, this poses a major issue for the filming. As evidenced byStranger Things,Netflix has already had issues with a young cast growing up too fast, and that would also be a risk forNarnia.
Extending the story also risks losing audience interest, and faltering in quality. The books themselves have elicited different reception, with some acting as beloved children’s novels and others seeming less impressive as time goes on.Gerwig is also only confirmed to direct the first two movies, and if she bowed out after that, her vision for the franchise could be lost. If Netflix still decides to go for all sevenNarniabooks despite these significant barriers, the pressure to deliver a satisfying ending will be extremely high.
