Greta Gerwig Discusses Her Fear Of Adapting THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA For Netflix

Greta Gerwig Discusses Her Fear Of Adapting THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA For Netflix

Greta Gerwig's next film will not be a sequel to the smash-hit Barbie, but rather a two-part film adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix.

By MarkJulian - Jan 11, 2024 08:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Netflix
Source: SFFGazette.com

As a UK resident, Greta Gerwig, director/actor/screenwriter, appears to be under a lot self-inflicted pressure to make a successful version of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia.

It's not just because it's the director's first project following her 2023 box office smash-hit Barbie, but also because Narnia holds a particular place in the hearts of UK residents.

"I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia,” Gerwig recently told BBC Radio 4’s Today program [via Deadline]. “I loved Narnia so much as a child. As an adult, C.S. Lewis is a thinker and a writer. I’m intimidated by doing this. It’s something that feels like a worthy thing to be intimidated by.

As a non-British person, I feel a particular sense of wanting to do it correctly… it’s like when Americans do Shakespeare, there’s a slight feeling of reverence and as if maybe we should treat it with extra care. It is not our countryman.

These remarks match what Gerwig has previously said regarding the project.

This past Summer, she revealed that she was just beginning to dive into the adaptation, stating, "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."

More recently, Netflix Films Chairman Scott Stuber announced that the streamer hopes to premiere the first film in 2024, if Gerwig can crack the script.

For our American readers who might be unfamiliar with the novels, between 1950 and 1956, C. S. Lewis wrote and published the seven fantasy novels that make up The Chronicles of Narnia.  

Set in the legendary realm of Narnia, the stories recounts the adventures of multiple generations of English children who journey to Narnia from our world and have a significant impact on its history.  The first book in the tale, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is regarded by many as the best and most well-known of the series. 

With a production budget of $180 million, the first movie was a box office success, grossing $745 million worldwide. However, Disney witnessed declining profits on the next two entries. 

Despite low box office returns, a film adaptation of the fourth book, The Silver Chair, was also in the works, but Netflix intervened with plans to reboot the well-liked children's fantasy books.

At the moment, Narnia fans are most interested in learning whether Gerwig's two-film adaptation will focus on the first two books or if it will try to cover the entire seven-novel saga.

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OriginalGusto1
OriginalGusto1 - 1/11/2024, 8:26 PM
I'll address the fears...It's gonna suck.
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/11/2024, 8:28 PM
Keep it like the source material and it could be potentially good.
HAILHYDRA
HAILHYDRA - 1/11/2024, 8:29 PM
The Lion, The Witch, and the Oppressive Patriarchy
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 1/11/2024, 8:31 PM
Netflix are foaming at the butt to get their hands on that IP
Scarilian
Scarilian - 1/11/2024, 9:00 PM
@HashTagSwagg -
Eh... if they had faith in the franchise it'd be a season.

Being a two-part film leans more to them lacking faith in its popularity as it's unlikely to spawn a series of two-part films to adapt the other books.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 1/11/2024, 8:32 PM
just don't make the lion black.


ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/12/2024, 5:52 AM
@harryba11zack - Idris Elba is the only correct choice for Aslan.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/11/2024, 8:36 PM
Bold to jump right into another big property, good luck
Origame
Origame - 1/11/2024, 8:45 PM
Greta gerwig? Why? Chronicles of Narnia is so far out of what her wheelhouse is.

Like what about her filmography says she'd be good for a fantasy epic? Nights and weekends? Ladybird? Little women? Barbie?

Really don't know why they don't just give her a project to work to her strengths. She's got a new amount of popularity post barbie for that kind of movie. And her films don't even require much of a budget outside of cast. Barbie is her most expensive film, and it only cost 130 mil, which is still gonna be cheaper than a modern day two part Narnia movie.
NemesisApoc
NemesisApoc - 1/11/2024, 8:47 PM
I can't wait for this to completely subvert and undermine all the Christian morals and themes from the novels and replace it all with identity and racial politics. Also, they'll absolutely cast a panther as Aslan.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/11/2024, 8:51 PM
@NemesisApoc -

DUDE!! I agree with you completely, but you probably should have said spoiler alert for the slow kids.

AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 1/11/2024, 9:26 PM
@NemesisApoc -


Already getting worked up and nothing has been shot.💁
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 1/11/2024, 9:27 PM
@DocSpock -



Just like Narnia, "Christian morals" doesn't exist so there is no problem with changing it👮
NemesisApoc
NemesisApoc - 1/11/2024, 9:34 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - Spoken like the product of a single mother.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/11/2024, 9:41 PM
@AmazingFILMporg -

If I am to believe that you believe that, it is very sad.
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 1/11/2024, 9:59 PM
@NemesisApoc - thats exactly what they should do. Christian "morals" have hurt the world enough as it is, no need to poison more minds with them.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 1/11/2024, 10:02 PM
@NemesisApoc -



Nope💁


AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 1/11/2024, 10:03 PM
@DocSpock -


Meeeeow🦸
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 1/11/2024, 9:11 PM
Greta Gerwig directing a Chronicles of Narnia Movie.....ya know what, after Barbie I'm in, don't even need to see the trailer, I'm 100% in.

Let's see what she can do

(It's not like anyone legitimately gives a shite about the Narnia franchise)
McMurdo
McMurdo - 1/11/2024, 9:49 PM
@KaptainKhaos - lol after Barbie, I'm 100% out. No way this ends well.
malschla
malschla - 1/11/2024, 9:51 PM
@KaptainKhaos - I absolutely care for the books. They are fantastic Christian allegory.
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 1/11/2024, 10:11 PM
@malschla - I'm glad you enjoy them!, I've never really heard anyone talk about the franchise at all
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 1/11/2024, 10:13 PM
@McMurdo - In her defense, that was Barbie, this is a different franchise and you can tell by her comments she wants to please the fans
McMurdo
McMurdo - 1/12/2024, 12:25 AM
@KaptainKhaos - I'm hoping for the best Narnia is good OG fantasy
malschla
malschla - 1/12/2024, 8:33 AM
@KaptainKhaos - I think that is likely because they aren’t comic movies, so people wouldn’t bring them up here?

In any case, I’m not sure I would call it a franchise. The books do not lend themselves to being filmed as a series of movies or even a show, because of their odd timeline and vastly different characters.

If you want a chuckle, look for the comic/meme of Tolkien vs Lewis regarding allegory.
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 1/12/2024, 12:45 PM
@malschla - I also meant outside the site (should have worded better), like I've never once at a party or comic con ever hear anyone saying they are reading Chronicles of Narnia, which may not be a bad thing but I guess it's just very very niche.

Last time I read the book and watched the BBC movie was back in Middle School (2002/2003)

I will check it out!
Super12
Super12 - 1/12/2024, 2:07 PM
@KaptainKhaos - Um, excuse me? This is one of the most treasured franchises in literary history. Massive amounts of people LOVE it, including my wife and I. It's right up there with LOTR in terms of endearment and reverence. They're such important stories to us. I think Disney abandoning the franchise after Dawn Treader was one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent film history. I've dreamed of seeing Silver Chair, Horse & his Boy, Magician's Nephew, and the Last Battle on the big screen, though I have very little faith that Netflix will do it justice.
tmp3
tmp3 - 1/11/2024, 9:16 PM
Love Gerwig so much. Loved her Little Women. Liked Barbie when I saw it in cinemas … loved it after rewatching it on Max. I think Lady Bird is the only film of hers I’m cold on, but maybe as an immigrant in America I struggle to relate to the plights of an over-privileged white girl in California lol. Might read through these this towards the end of the year to get ready ngl
dracula
dracula - 1/11/2024, 9:44 PM
please be to the narnia series what His Dark Materials was to that series
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/12/2024, 8:36 AM
@dracula - Hoping at least it will be more like the BBC TV series adaption than the film, and I actualy liked the first couple film adaptions, but also hoping they will be doing the full series of books and reasonably faithful. Before anyone starts on it however if they change aspects of appearance of the kids for instance that need not be an issue at all as long as the story is faithfully executed.
theFUZZ008
theFUZZ008 - 1/11/2024, 10:31 PM
I hope it’s meta. Meta is so edgy.
Super12
Super12 - 1/12/2024, 2:11 PM
Those are encouraging words to hear from the director, but there's still a long way to go before I have confidence they'll do a faithful adaptation.

Also you can't top the 2005 Lion, Witch, & the Wardrobe. It was a perfect adaptation. Perfect. There's no point in going back and doing it again.

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