Greta Gerwig’s firstChronicles of Narniamovie may now have a theatrical release window, but only if one key condition is met. Gerwig is the director behindLady Bird,Little Women, and most notably, the 2023 hitBarbie. Since makingBarbie, the director was offered the opportunity to work with Netflix on twomovie adaptations ofThe Chronicles of Narnia. Unlike the Disney movie adaptations of the story, Gerwig’s version has been reported to follow the chronological order of the books. Based on a recent interview, it is thought that Gerwig will be adaptingThe Magician’s Nephewfirst.
PerPuck,Gerwig’sNarniamovie may have a theatrical release window. According to the source, when Dan Lin took over for Scott Stuber as Netflix’s Film Chief,the deal forNarniaincluded a theatrical release. Said release may now come in the form of an exclusive IMAX release towards the end of 2026. To secure this release date, however, the production must complete the movie by that date.
What This Means For The First Narnia Movie
This Might Confirm Theatrical Release Rumors
This news comes after, at the end of November, it was reported thatGerwig was making a pitch for her firstChronicles of Narniamovie to be released globally in IMAX across 1800 screens. It was reported that Netflix may want to reorganize their distribution strategy after the studio lost to Warner Bros. in the deal forWuthering Heights. The latest report seems to have confirmed thatNarniadoes have a theatrical release deal, that represents a change in the plan from the original Netflix deal.
That said, it seems like the nature of the IMAX release window might be somewhat inflexible, as it is contingent upon the movie being ready in time. This release contingency will put pressure on theNarniamovie to put things into action, as it has not yet started filming or significant production. So far, the only person confirmed to be cast in theNarniamovies isEnola HolmesstarLouis Partridge. Hopefully, the promise of an IMAX release puts some fire under Gerwig and her team in a positive way, causing them to get things moving.
Our Take On The Narnia Release Window
An End-Of-Year Release Could Be Good For Its Box Office Haul
While there is not yet an exact release date for theNarniamovie, an end-of-year release could be advantageous for the film. The box office tends to pick up around the holidays. Disney’s firstNarniamovie,The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobewas released in December 2005, and made $745 million in theaters. This goes to showTheChronicles ofNarniamovies can compete well at this time of year, adding even more reason for Gerwig and her team to kick it into gear.
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narniais a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an upcoming reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
