Netflix Unveils the First ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ Trailer as Greta Gerwig Takes Fans Back to the Beginning

Few fantasy worlds have been waiting for a screen return as long as Narnia. After years of uncertainty, rumors and a long stretch of silence, the next chapter of C.S. Lewis’ saga is finally ready to show itself. Fans of the books, and plenty of newcomers, have been counting down to this moment.

The wait is over, at least for a first glimpse. Netflix has released the first trailer for ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, with the debut set for Tuesday, October 13, at 2 p.m. ET, which is 11 a.m. PT and 7 p.m. in the UK. It arrives a day after Netflix unveiled the film’s first official poster.

The trailer is the first real look at a project that has been shrouded in mystery. It is also the first time Lewis’ novel about the creation of Narnia has been brought to the screen. Because the footage has only just dropped, the focus here is on what the studio has confirmed so far.

A Universe Begins. See how Narnia was created in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, a film by Greta Gerwig – only in theaters February 12. https://t.co/jwxksCL0N7

— Netflix (@netflix) October 13, 2026

The poster carries the tagline “A Universe Begins” and the billing “A Film by Greta Gerwig”. It also promotes an IMAX release, a reminder that Netflix is treating the film as a theatrical event. Descriptions of the artwork differ slightly, but it shows the 2 child leads on the winged horse Fledge, framed within a soft-focus lion’s head against the cosmic birth of a new world.

Commentators have compared the style to late-1970s and early-1980s fantasy art, with ‘The NeverEnding Story’ and ‘Labyrinth’ mentioned as touchstones. A silhouette in the background also appears to suggest that Aslan will have his mane in the film. That kind of detail is already fueling discussion among fans.

Gerwig’s film will play in IMAX previews on February 10, 2027, before opening in theaters on February 12. It then arrives on Netflix on April 2, giving it an exclusive theatrical window of about 49 days. That is a notably long run for a streamer, and it reflects the company’s investment in the film.

The date has moved from earlier plans, which had pointed to a release in late 2026. Gerwig said in a statement that working with Netflix has been extraordinary, and that IMAX continues to be an incredible partner. She added that she cannot wait for audiences to see it in theaters and then on Netflix.

‘The Magician’s Nephew’ is the first book chronologically in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, though it was the sixth published. The story follows 2 friends, Digory, played by David McKenna, and Polly, played by Beatrice Campbell, who are sent into another world after touching a magical ring. Their journey leads them to the Wood Between Worlds, the realm of Charn and the birth of Narnia itself.

Daniel Craig plays Uncle Andrew, the title magician, who has spent his life tinkering with magical objects. Emma Mackey plays Jadis, the woman who will become the White Witch, and Carey Mulligan plays Digory’s mother, Mabel Kirke. Meryl Streep voices Aslan, and Ciarán Hinds is also in the cast, with his role still unannounced.

Gerwig has described her approach as a rock opera, nodding to David Bowie and The Who. In keeping with that, Aslan has mismatched eyes and a red-striped face, a reference to Bowie. She has also moved the timeline from the book’s 1900 setting to the 1950s, a change that has prompted debate about how it will connect to ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

In interviews, Craig has said Uncle Andrew is a man so excited by what could be that he overlooks the people around him. Mackey has described Jadis as a mix of fun and menace. Gerwig has also said she fell in love as a child with the idea of a cosmic lion singing Narnia to life.

Reaction to the film has been mixed but passionate. Some fans are excited by the fresh, contemporary approach, while others have questioned the casting of Streep as Aslan, arguing that it alters a symbolic figure. The estate of C.S. Lewis is involved through Douglas Gresham and Melvin Adams, who serve as executive producers, alongside producers Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal and Vincent Sieber-Smith.

With the first footage now in the world, the conversation is likely to shift from speculation to analysis. The trailer will be the first test of whether Gerwig’s vision matches what fans have imagined. For a franchise with this much history, expectations could hardly be higher.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!