New Narnia film from Greta Gerwig gets wide theatrical release

The upcoming film Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig, will get a wide theatrical release, scheduled for early 2027. Netflix has announced that the long-awaited movie will no longer be limited to a holiday release window, instead kicking off with IMAX sneak previews on February 10, 2027, followed by a global release on February 12, 2027. For audiences who prefer to watch at home, the film will be available to Netflix subscribers starting April 2, 2027.

About the film

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew is based on the book by C. S. Lewis. The story will serve as an origin tale set in the fascinating world of Narnia. Greta Gerwig, known for successful films like Barbie, has expressed her excitement about adapting the material. She has described writing Narnia as an honor and found the magic of Lewis' work both daunting and inspiring. The lead roles are played by David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, with additional cast members including Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep.

Strategic shift for Netflix

Traditionally, Netflix has not often focused on wide theatrical releases for its films, but this move could signal a change in strategy. The company has previously limited theatrical runs mainly to meet awards requirements, but now appears to be opening the door to a more traditional approach. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has emphasized that the theatrical distribution strategy has not changed, but the film's cinema rollout shows growing flexibility within the platform.

Greta Gerwig's reaction

Greta Gerwig has responded to Netflix's involvement in the film, describing it as an extraordinary experience.