Entertainment

Netflix’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” Reportedly to Be Directed by Greta Gerwig

Published

3 months ago

July 4, 2023

Akash

Famous for her direction in “Lady Bird” and the upcoming summer blockbuster “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig is said to have signed a deal with Netflix to direct an oncoming film adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ treasured series, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” As per a recent article in The New Yorker, it seems that Gerwig’s contract includes scriptwriting and directing at least two films based on this magical series.

The Collaboration Between Netflix and Gerwig

Back in 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to the globally popular series, paving the way for its transformation into cinema features. At that juncture, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, expressed his excitement by saying, “Entire families are enamored by characters like Aslan amid the entire Narnian realm, and we’re ecstatic to be their host for forthcoming years.” Nonetheless, as present stands, neither Netflix nor Gerwig has officially acknowledged her being part of the upcoming adaptative direction.

A Glance at Greta Gerwig’s Remarkable Career

An accomplished director and writer, Greta Gerwig have earned praises for her remarkable contributions to films such as “Lady Bird,” earning her an Academy Award nomination under the Best Director category. She also gained accolades for adapted screenplay directed towards her work on 2019’s version of “Little Women,” featuring a stellar cast including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep.

In addition to her impressive slew of works so far, audiences will get another chance to experience Gerwig’s directorial prowess in the eagerly awaited “Barbie” movie slated for release on July 21st. This film boasts a packed list of stars, including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling playing Barbie and Ken, respectively; America Ferrera as Gloria; Will Ferrell portraying Mattel’s CEO; and Helen Mirren narrating the tale.

A Comprehensive Look at The Chronicles of Narnia Series

As one of C.S. Lewis’s most famous creations, “The Chronicles of Narnia” enjoys the same level of renown as his deep theological works like “Mere Christianity.” Having embraced Christianity, Lewis positioned the entire narrative arc of the Narnian saga around Christ and fabricated Aslan to symbolically answer, ‘How would Christ manifest if a world like Narnia really existed?’

“The Chronicles of Narnia,” which consists of seven books in all, is based in the fantastical territory named Narnia, that’s home to an eclectic mix of entities from animals to witches. The plot unravels around children from Earth who randomly land up in Narnia and find themselves embroiled in various escapades. Worth mentioning among these books is “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” identified as one of the top-selling books ever.

List of Books within the Narnian Universe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
Prince Caspian (1951)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
The Silver Chair (1953)
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
The Last Battle (1956)

Filmic Journey and Christian Motifs in The Chronicles of Narnia

Being a successful Christian writer, C.S. Lewis wove his writings with threads from his faith and conviction. A chat on mythology with fellow fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien got him reconsidering Jesus Christ’s Story, leading him to become what he referred to as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England” after joining the Church Of England.

Upon adopting Christianity as his way of life, Lois penned down many authorings peppered with religious themes like “A Grief Observed,” “The Screwtape Letters,” “Miracles,” and “The Problem Of Pain.” Albeit perceived as fantasy-based, “The Chronicles Of Narnia” has prominent Christian overtones; As Lewis himself mentioned, how unprovoked they emerged into this narrative from early images like those dominant lions or queens on sleds.”