Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos teases the vision of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movies. Gerwig is an acclaimed screenwriter and director, best known for her work on 2023’s hit film Barbie. Gerwig is announced to be directing two Netflix films within the Chronicles of Narnia series.
Speaking with Time, Sarandos teases the scope of Geriwg’s Narnia films. The Netflix exec called Gerwig an “incredible visionary,” and went on to say that the films will be “bigger and bolder” than audiences could ever imagine. He said that, similar to the original C.S. Lewis novels, the work is “rooted in faith.” Check out the full quote from Sarandos below:
“It won’t be counter to how the audience may have imagined those worlds, but it will be bigger and bolder than they thought.”
Gerwig described being drawn to the “euphorically dreamlike” nature of the novels’ writing. She went on to say:
“It’s connected to the folklore and fairy stories of England, but it’s a combination of different traditions. As a child, you accept the whole thing—that you’re in this land of Narnia there’s fauns, and then Father Christmas shows up. It doesn’t even occur to you that it’s not schematic. I’m interested in embracing the paradox of the worlds that Lewis created, because that’s what’s so compelling about them.”
Why Greta Gerwig is a Great Choice for Narnia
Barbie helps show why Gerwig is an excellent pick to direct these two Narnia movies. Though stemming from vastly different source materials, both Barbie and Narnia depict fantasy worlds that are popular to children, and nostalgic for adults. With Barbie, Gerwig offered a highly original take on this world, replete with fantastic production design and performances. The way Sarandos describes Gerwig’s “bolder” vision makes it hopeful that Gerwig will repeat the same originality with Narnia.
Gerwig’s other directorial work — Lady Bird and Little Women — is far more grounded in reality. Both of these films also lay a strong groundwork for Narnia, however, as they feature young adults as their main characters. The depth of the characters of Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan is vital to the strength of Narnia. With Lady Bird and Little Women behind her, Gerwig has proven that she can portray teenage characters with such depth.
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Sarandos and Gerwig’s most recent statements on her Narnia movies only make the future look even brighter for her already well-foregrounded films. The way that Gerwig appreciates the source material and “embracing the paradox of the worlds that Lewis created” is hopeful in and of itself. Gerwig is set to create two Narnia adaptations that are creative and new, but loving homages to the text which they adapt.
