The wardrobe creaks open once more. After years of anticipation, Netflix and Greta Gerwig have finally sketched a date on the calendar for their reimagined Chronicles of Narnia, turning the mythic world of C.S. Lewis into a cinematic event with a distinctly bold imprint.
The director, whose films Barbie and Little Women redefined familiar material with sharp insight and fresh energy, shepherds this project from page to screen with an eye toward grandeur and mythic resonance.
When Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Will Be Released on Netflix
This new chapter, simply titled Narnia, will first roar onto IMAX screens on Thanksgiving Day 2026, offering fans a rare theatrical spectacle from the streaming giant before it descends onto Netflix in December 2026.
This move represents one of the biggest theatrical runs the streamer has ever greenlit, reflecting both confidence in the project and Greta Gerwig’s influence following her blockbuster success with Barbie.
Greta Gerwig attends the “Jay Kelly” Headline Gala at the 69th BFI London Film Festival. (Source: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)
The story being adapted is The Magician’s Nephew, the earliest chronological tale in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series, offering a fresh entry point even for longtime fans of the franchise.
Production began in the UK in mid-2025, with filming taking place at major studios like Shepperton, and is expected to wrap by early 2026. The adaptation continues a long legacy of Narnia on screen, following earlier films such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.
Beyond its release strategy, it has drawn attention for its creative ambitions. Netflix’s partnership with IMAX gives the film an event-style platform, with executives describing the collaboration as a chance to deliver a “major theatrical experience” that could elevate the fantasy genre in the modern era.
