Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated adaptation of C.S. Lewis's Narnia novel, The Magician's Nephew. The film, set a millennium before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, explores the very origins of Lewis's fantasy universe and the iconic wardrobe itself.
A World Born of Music
The trailer depicts protagonists Digory Kirke, played by David McKenna, and Polly Plummer, portrayed by Beatrice Campbell, embarking on interdimensional journeys facilitated by the enigmatic magician Andrew Ketterley, portrayed by Daniel Craig. Gerwig, known for her work on Barbie and Little Women, has described her vision for Narnia as a "rock opera," aiming for a grand and transportive experience. "Narnia is literally a world made out of music," Gerwig told Empire earlier this year. "It is a world sung to life by Aslan, and rock ’n’ roll to me felt like a world made out of music." The trailer itself is set to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," underscoring this musical theme.
The Magician's Nephew marks the first live-action film adaptation of this particular Narnia book. While other installments in the seven-book series, most notably The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, have seen multiple adaptations, this film delves into the creation of Narnia. Previous adaptations have spanned theater, radio, and comic formats. Netflix acquired the rights to C.S. Lewis's works in 2018.
A Lifelong Dream for Gerwig
Gerwig expressed her deep personal connection to the material, stating, "I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life." She added that the idea of a universe built from music had always resonated with her, calling the opportunity to bring it to screen "the honor of a lifetime." She credits C.S. Lewis's series with fostering her belief in magic, hidden worlds, and the potential for adventure in the everyday.
The film features a notable cast, including Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep, alongside newcomers McKenna and Campbell. Initially slated for a 2026 release, Netflix has since shifted the film's debut. Narnia: The Magician's Nephew is now scheduled for an IMAX and global theatrical release on February 12, 2027, with a streaming debut on Netflix following on April 2, 2027. Early IMAX screenings are set to begin on February 10, 2027.