Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Star Breaks Silence On Casting For Netflix Reboot

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Okay, big news for Narnia fans! Emma Mackey has officially confirmed she’s joining Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film adaptation. What’s really interesting is they aren’t starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as many expected. Instead, Gerwig is diving into The Magician’s Nephew, which is actually the first story chronologically in the world of Narnia, even though it was written later in the series. It’s a smart move, giving us the origins of everything, and I’m already intrigued to see what Mackey brings to the role!

While Netflix hasn’t made any official announcements about who will star in the series, reports suggest that much of the main cast has already been chosen. Emma Mackey is widely believed to be playing Jadis, the White Witch, a central character in the story which delves into the origins of Narnia.

In an interview with MovieWeb, Emma Mackey addressed rumors about her being cast in the film. While she couldn’t share any specifics, she confirmed she’s involved and described working with director Greta Gerwig and being on set as a “wonderful process.” Here’s what she had to say:

I can’t say much about it yet, except that it’s been a really amazing and exciting experience so far. Greta is someone I deeply admire, a true friend, and a very inspiring person. I feel lucky to be working on her project.

This is America Ferrera’s second time working with director Greta Gerwig, following her role as Physicist Barbie in the 2023 film Barbie. She joins Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet as actors who have appeared in more than one of Gerwig’s movies; both Ronan and Chalamet previously starred in Lady Bird and Little Women.

Tilda Swinton famously portrayed Jadis in Disney’s 2005 film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. If Mackenzie Foy takes on the role of Jadis, she’ll be playing a younger version of the character, as the events of The Magician’s Nephew happen earlier in the Chronicles of Narnia story.

The cast also includes David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell as Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, the children who journey to both the Wood Between the Worlds and Narnia, and Carey Mulligan as Digory’s mother, Mabel Kirke. Denise Gough, known for her role as Dedra Meero in Andor, has revealed she’s playing a villainous character, though details about who she plays are still secret.

The new movie adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia will surprisingly have a theatrical release before coming to Netflix. It will play in theaters for four weeks starting November 26, 2026, and will then begin streaming on December 25th. This is a change for Netflix, which usually releases movies only on its streaming service or with very limited showings in cinemas. This new approach also marks a reunion between Mackey and Gerwig.

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2025-11-08 23:02