Netflix’s long-gestating The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew movie is finally filming, which is Greta Gerwig’s big follow-up to her billion dollar Barbie movie.
Filming Kicks Off in London
This past weekend saw Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew shooting in and around Bank Station and The Royal Exchange in London. Director Greta Gerwig was spotted on set along with two young, unidentified actors believed to be playing Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. Lavish sets recreated post-war Britain in the 1950s, with crowds of extras filling the streets.
Online reports and set photos confirm the story has been shifted from the novel’s Victorian-era setting to 1955. This change could alter the timeline of future adaptations, potentially moving the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from WWII into the early 2000s.
Check out the set video below.
Cast So Far
Netflix hasn’t officially announced the cast, but the following names are listed on IMDb and/or rumored:
- Emma Mackey (Barbie, Sex Education) – The White Witch
- Daniel Craig – Uncle Andrew
- Meryl Streep – Expected as Aslan
- Carey Mulligan – In negotiations for an undisclosed role
- Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes) – Role unknown
The Story
Based on Lewis’ 1955 novel, The Magician’s Nephew serves as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It follows two children who accidentally unleash the White Witch onto the streets of London.
Release info
Gerwig’s adaptation marks Netflix’s first wide theatrical release. It will open on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, including IMAX screens, before hitting Netflix on Christmas Day. Filming will continue across the South and South East of England, with portions shot at Shepperton Studios.
Why Start With The Magician’s Nephew?
While fans expected Netflix to launch with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew lays the groundwork for the entire saga. It introduces key lore, the creation of Narnia, and the origins of the wardrobe itself, making it a logical starting point for a multi-film series.
Here is the book description:
On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan’s song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
Watch the video:
