IMAX CEO Says Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Could Become a Global Cultural Event

IMAX held its first Investors Day event in New York, and the company used the gathering to talk about Greta Gerwig’s upcoming take on The Magician’s Nephew.

The information came from IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond, and was reported through NarniaWeb, which shared the details of what he revealed about the Netflix film arriving next November.

Gelfond said that Gerwig is giving Narnia a very different tone from past versions. He explained that the movie leans into a modern sound built around guitars and rock influences. He brought up bands like Pink Floyd and The Doors as examples of the kind of music fans should expect.

The score is being created by Mark Ronson, who recently worked with Gerwig on Barbie. Gelfond said this musical direction matches what producer Amy Pascal mentioned last year when she described the project as having the spirit of rock and roll.

During the presentation, Gelfond told investors, “This is not your mother’s or your grandmother’s Narnia. The music in it is unbelievably contemporary music, which IMAX fans like. I’m not gonna say specifically, but things like Pink Floyd and The Doors. You know that kind of music which people go to see in IMAX.” He also called the project a major blockbuster designed for both IMAX and Netflix.

Some theater chains are refusing to show the movie, but Gelfond didn’t seem worried. He said he believes the film could have a huge impact once people see what Gerwig is doing. He said, “I think, as I said before, that it’s really going to change the world. And I know that sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but Greta is making this movie for IMAX, and then fully understands that when word gets out about what this movie is, it’s going to create a cultural event.”

Production began in August. Filming has taken place on large sets made to look like London in the 1950s. This is a change from the original book by C.S. Lewis, which opens in Victorian London. Gerwig appears to be shifting the story into a different time period for her version.

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