Netflix’s Chronicles of Narnia Rumored Release Date Sets Up a Dune & Jumanji 3 Showdown

According to Bloomberg, Barbie director Greta Gerwig‘s next film, a new adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia series for Netflix, will reportedly hit theaters in December 2026. There hasn’t been any official announcement from Netflix or Gerwig as of this writing, so take this rumored release date with a grain of salt.

If true, though, it would mean the film, which Netflix is reportedly eyeing for an IMAX release, will be battling for box office supremacy against Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune film, based on the novel Dune: Messiah by Frank Herbert, which is also rumored to be out at the same time. On top of that, Sony revealed they planned to release Jumanji 3, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black, on December 11, 2026.

Both Dune and Jumanji are IMAX candidates as well, meaning Christmastime 2026 could be crowded with grand cinematic experience films. Another big movie, Ice Age 6, is slated for December 18th of that year, though it likely won’t be competing for IMAX space. The sixth installment of the popular series, acquired by Disney via their acquisition of 20th Century Fox, will see the return of cast members Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, and Simon Pegg.

Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Is a Big Mystery at the Moment

Little is known about Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, which will be the first of two for Netflix. It isn’t clear if the two films will cover the first two novels in the series or if they will comprise a single adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first novel, split into two parts.

Also up for pure speculation is the casting. Saoirse Ronan has been rumored to be attached to the project because she has worked with Gerwig on two other occasions, Lady Bird and Little Women, and because she has expressed interest in appearing in the films. When asked about the rumors, Ronan told Jimmy Fallon (via Deadline):

I mean, there isn’t, like, no truth to it. [Gerwig] hasn’t asked me yet. She’s writing it…

But we have the kind of relationship where I just sort of go to her and I say, ‘So I’ll be in this, just so you know.’ And she takes some time to think about it and then she goes, ‘OK.’ But she honestly hasn’t asked me about ‘Narnia’ – I think she’s so wrapped up in writing it right now.

When it was first announced in 2023 that Gerwig would be helming two films, the director said she was terrified to tackle the adaptation. She explained to the Total Film podcast (via Entertainment Weekly):

I haven’t even really started wrapping my arms around it, but I’m properly scared of it, which feels like a good place to start… I think when I’m scared, it’s always a good sign. Maybe when I stop being scared, it’ll be like, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t do that one.’ No, I’m terrified of it. It’s extraordinary. And it’s exciting.

Be on the lookout for more news about Gerwig’s Narnia when it becomes available.

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Release Date

July 21, 2023

Runtime

114 Minutes

Cast

Margot Robbie
, Ryan Gosling
, Simu Liu
, Ariana Greenblatt
, Helen Mirren
, Nicola Coughlan
, John Cena
, Will Ferrell
, Ritu Arya
, Michael Cera
, America Ferrera
, Alexandra Shipp
, Kate McKinnon