Greta Gerwig’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ Reboot Is “All About Rock ‘n’ Roll”

The Chronicles of Narnia are fantastical films filled with wonder, talking animals, magic, and an evil queen. So, pretty rock and roll, right? Well, according to a recent interview with producer Amy Pascal, Greta Gerwig, director of the unexpected hit Barbie, thinks that’s exactly the direction the new adaptation of the fantasy children’s books needs to take. The epic novels about the world inside the wardrobe by famous author C.S. Lewis are filled with wonder and whimsy, but also depict a full-blown and bloody war between good and evil, so maybe Gerwig is onto something.

In her interview, Pascal told Deadline that the “very new take on Narnia, all about rock and roll” will start filming in July 2025. But what does that mean, you ask? It could mean literally anything when it comes to Gerwig’s incredibly unique directorial vision. With Pascal producing — and also having been a producer for Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Little Women — Gerwig is set to bring a fresh view on the books of her childhood in at least two The Chronicles of Narnia movies for Netflix.

One of the Ladybird director’s Narnia films might adapt Lewis’ prequel to the fantasy series, “The Magician’s Nephew,” showing movie audiences parts of the story they’ve never seen on-screen before. This gives her even more room to create the story and wonderful world it lives in entirely on her own. With rumors of previous Gerwig film star Saoirse Ronan being featured in the film, the new take on the fantasy classic is shaping up to be a hit.

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Narnia Surprisingly Fits With Rock and Roll

Gerwig is a director known for impeccable execution of her bold and impactful choices, often deviating from the norm or more predictable. While the original adaptations of Lewis’ novels from the 2000s are full of classic fantasy imagery, Pascal revealed that Gerwig has a completely different vibe in mind. But is it really that different when the story is about four kids trying to escape their circumstances, and find themselves fighting a war for a world outside their own? Sounds pretty metal to us.

Fantasy films have — in general — a delicate, soft, glowing, light vibe about them, which can be quite odd in stories that are focused on major conflicts and acts of violence. However, audiences are accustomed to the fantasy genre being more whimsical than edgy. That said, if anyone can take a sword to that genre construct, it’s Gerwig, who managed to take a popular but oft-maligned plastic doll and turn it into the basis for a feminist film about women finding themselves.

The visionary director clearly has a good idea of how she wants her adaptations to look and feel, being a fan of the books since she was a kid. Gerwig is even pushing for an IMAX release of her upcoming Netflix films since she is dissatisfied with the idea of letting her adaptations go straight to streaming. Now that the ball is in her court, fans of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can relax. She’s got this.