In a recent interview with Collider, Netflix executive Scott Stuber offered a new update about Greta Gerwig‘s highly-anticipated adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Narnia. Stuber revealed that the streamer is currently hoping to start production for Gerwig’s first Narnia movie in 2024.
“Well, I think people know that we’re aspirationally trying to get Greta Gerwig’s [The Chronicles of] Narnia together and get that movie, which will be next year,” Stuber said.
Since the Writers Guild of America has officially ended its 148-day strike, Gerwig has now been able to resume writing the screenplay for her upcoming two Narnia movies, which she will also direct. However, given that SAG-AFTRA still hasn’t received the fair deal its needs from AMPTP (which Netflix is a part of) to end the actors strike, it’s probably likely that Netflix’s 2024 production start plan for its first Narnia movie may still change.
Greta Gerwig Signs on For Her First Major Franchise
Prior to the successful theatrical release of Warner Bros.’ Barbie movie, it was first announced that Gerwig has partnered with Netflix to write and direct two Chronicles of Narnia movies. It’s currently unclear whether these movies would be in the same continuity as The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader or if they would be a complete reboot.
Under the terms of a multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix will develop classic stories from across the Narnia universe into series and films for its members worldwide. All series and films produced through the deal will be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for series and as producers for features. In total, the Narnia books have sold more than 100 million copies and have been translated into more than 47 languages worldwide. The deal marks the first time that rights to all seven books of the Narnia series have been held by the same company.
At the box office, the Narnia franchise has taken in nearly $1.6 billion worldwide with three feature films: 2005’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, 2008’s Prince Caspian, and 2010’s The Voyager of the Dawn Treader. The original film franchise starred William Mosely, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage and Will Poulter.
