Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ Just Revealed Its First Look at Aslan Creating Narnia

Greta Gerwig became one of the most in-demand filmmakers in Hollywood after ‘Barbie’ dominated the 2023 box office, turning a seemingly simple toy adaptation into a cultural phenomenon that redefined what a studio blockbuster could look like. Her next project needed to live up to that momentum, and she’s chosen one of literature’s most beloved fantasy worlds to do it.

Netflix acquired the rights to C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series back in 2018, and after years of development, Gerwig’s take on the franchise has slowly started coming into focus. Rather than revisiting the more famous ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ Gerwig chose to adapt ‘The Magician’s Nephew,’ the sixth book Lewis wrote but the first chronologically, marking the very first screen adaptation that story has ever received.

That long-awaited vision is now finally visible to the public. Netflix has unveiled the first official look at ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,’ featured on an exclusive Empire magazine subscriber cover, showing a sweeping, luminous image of Aslan creating the world of Narnia itself. The film is set to open in theaters worldwide on February 12, 2027.

The film follows two children, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, played by newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, who use mysterious magical rings to travel between worlds through the tranquil Wood Between the Worlds. Their curiosity accidentally awakens the wicked Queen Jadis, played by Emma Mackey, from the dying world of Charn, eventually bringing her into contact with the great cosmic lion Aslan as he sings Narnia into existence.

The ensemble cast also includes Carey Mulligan as Digory’s mother Mabel Kirke, alongside Ciarán Hinds, Daniel Craig as the amoral would-be magician Uncle Andrew, and Meryl Streep in a supporting role. That lineup gives the film a genuinely prestige feel, matching the scale Gerwig has clearly aimed for with this adaptation.

First look at Aslan creating Narnia in Greta Gerwig’s ‘NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW’.

In theaters on February 12, 2027.

(https://t.co/QiXftX7OQA) pic.twitter.com/kciYDVvIHp

— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 17, 2026

Gerwig has spoken candidly about her personal connection to the source material, describing the moment she first encountered the story as a child. “I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life,” she told Tudum, Netflix’s official editorial platform. She added, “Working with Netflix to bring this film to life has been extraordinary, and IMAX continues to be an incredible partner. I cannot wait for people to see the film in theaters on February 12 and on Netflix on April 2.”

That two-stage release plan, opening theatrically before eventually streaming, reflects a notable shift in strategy for Netflix, which has increasingly experimented with theatrical windows for its biggest prestige titles rather than pushing everything straight to streaming.

The film’s path to theaters hasn’t been entirely smooth. ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ had originally been slated for a Thanksgiving 2026 release exclusively in IMAX, but the date moved to February after a cast member’s injury pushed production back by six weeks. That delay ultimately gave Netflix room to expand the release into the wider, full theatrical window Gerwig had reportedly wanted from the beginning.

Interestingly, the newly revealed title branding drops “The Chronicles of” from the franchise name entirely, with marketing materials simply reading “Greta Gerwig’s Narnia.” That choice signals a deliberate creative reorientation, positioning the film as a distinct directorial vision rather than another entry in a broader franchise machine.

Mark Ronson, who previously composed alongside Gerwig on ‘Barbie,’ returns to score the film together with Andrew Wyatt, suggesting the musical sensibility that helped define ‘Barbie’s’ cultural footprint could carry over into this very different kind of fantasy epic. Sony Pictures Releasing International will handle distribution outside the United States and Canada, giving the film a genuinely global theatrical rollout.

With its first look now finally public and a firm release date locked in, ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ looks poised to become one of the most closely watched fantasy releases of early 2027, carrying both the weight of Lewis’s beloved source material and the expectations that come with being Gerwig’s first film since ‘Barbie.’

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