The Chronicles of Narnia star William Moseley offers his praise and reveals his excitement for Barbie director Greta Gerwig’s and Netflix’s new take on the fantasy novel series. Gerwig will helm the streaming service’s adaptation of C.S Lewis’ iconic fantasy novel series exploring a fantastical realm of magic, kingdoms, and wonder. In 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Mosely portrayed Peter Pevensie, the eldest child in a family of WWII evacuees who stumble into the world of Narnia in a time of crisis.
As Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation begins to assemble a production crew, Moseley revealed that he was looking forward to seeing the director’s take on the story to Bleeding Cool. Moseley stated he had been left impressed by both Little Women and Barbie, saying that he felt Netflix had been lucky to recruit her in helping launch a take on Lewis’ world for a new generation. Check out Moseley’s full supportive statement below:
In terms of what I think about Gretta Gerwig directing, I think she’s incredible. ‘Barbie’ (2023) was an amazing movie, and ‘Little Woman’ (2019) was brilliant. Everything she touches turns gold, so I think Netflix is lucky to have her, and I’m sure she will embrace the challenge. I hope she enjoys it because it’s an incredible world to create, and I can’t wait to see what she produces.
Can Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia Become The Next Big Fantasy Franchise?
With over 14 years passing since Walden Media’s last adaptation of their Chronicles of Narnia series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawntreader, there isn’t a better time to step through the wardrobe once more, and Netflix seemingly has high ambitions for the series. While Gerwig and Coco co-writer Matthew Aldrich are currently the only two creatives attached to the project, it was confirmed that the streaming service had acquired the adaptation rights for Lewis’ entire series from the start. As such, it is clear the company hopes to turn Narnia into another modern fantasy epic.
Furthermore, Gerwig has also been reported by her talent agent Jenny Barber as seeing her adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia as an opportunity to push her filmmaker status forward and challenge herself. While Little Women showed that Gerwig could tackle a classic literature adaptation and Barbie‘s incredible success solidified her status as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated upcoming directors, The Chronicles of Narnia can give Gerwig the opportunity to handle a large-scale fantasy unlike even her celebrated 2023 feature. As such, should Narnia succeed, it could reshape how studios approach their adaptations in the future.
While Moseley will not return in Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia, it is clear that he still holds the franchise in high regard. The actor’s approval of Gerwig is a promising sign for Netflix’s potential series as early production continues. While no release window has been given, a return to Narnia under Gerwig’s leadership could help reinvigorate the fantasy genre.
