Greta Gerwig's upcoming adaptation of C. S. Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew" is set to embrace a "rock opera" style, drawing inspiration from 1960s and 1970s British rock, particularly the glam era popularized by David Bowie. The film, which marks the first on-screen adaptation of the Narnia origin story, is scheduled for a February 12 theatrical release, with IMAX previews starting February 10, followed by a Netflix debut on April 2.
Gerwig described her vision for the film in an interview with Empire, stating, "I wanted a rock opera. I wanted it to be big and transporting." While not a musical, the film's soundtrack is heavily influenced by the rock opera genre, aiming to create a world that feels "sung to life." The setting has also been shifted from the early 1900s to post-war '50s Britain.
Netflix has released a first look at Aslan, the powerful lion who sings Narnia into existence. Gerwig's interpretation of the character is directly inspired by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust persona, featuring heterochromic eyes and a striped face. Meryl Streep is lending her voice to this unique portrayal of Aslan.
"I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness," Gerwig explained regarding her casting choice for Aslan. "Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight. I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one."
"The Magician's Nephew" is chronologically the first book in C. S. Lewis' Narnia series, though previous adaptations have focused on "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe." The film boasts an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, and Ciarán Hinds, alongside newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell in the lead young roles.