By Michaela Gordoni
Director Greta Gerwig is changing C.S. Lewis’s Narnia once again — this time with the timeline and setting.
Gerwig is adapting The Magician’s Nephew, which is a prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia.
The original novel is set in 1900. However, Gerwig’s movie will have it set in the 1950s, Screen Rant reports. Recent photos and footage from the set match the 1950s setting.
An Instagram user videoed some of the set and said, “Walked through the film set of a Netflix series today- so beautifully done and full of detail! Apparently it’s set in 1955 😉.”
Inevitably, this change will also move the timeline for any future movies, as The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and the other books mainly take place in the 1940s. Gerwig has signed on for at least two movies, including THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW.
This is not a welcome change. Narnia fans are already displeased, as news came out in April that Meryl Streep is set to voice Aslan, who is male in the books. Liam Neeson voiced Aslan in the recent film adaptations.
Movieguide® decried Streep’s casting, writing:
The default position of the world’s Christian community is that they want this material, and importantly, its underlying themes, to reach as many human beings as possible, and therefore they want the Netflix effort to succeed. They will be gasoline to the fire of the movie’s success.But, if these underlying themes are diminished, ignored or even sabotaged, the Christian community will vocally distance themselves from the project and even “cancel” the film.
While there are only two absolutely critical components of Christianity (who Christ is and what he did), like-wise with Narnia, the nature and mission of Aslan is critical.Any studio, writer, musician or artist who tampers with the nature and mission of Aslan, must expect the some negative feedback.
Additionally, Movieguide® founder Dr. Ted Baehr said:
I talked with Greta Gerwig about a year and a half ago. She said she loved this animated version that we did. It helped her to understand the Gospel, but then…they’re going to have Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan. But Aslan represents Jesus, and Jesus was fully God and fully man, not fully woman, but He was fully man.
So to change him with Meryl Streep’s voice, and I appreciate Meryl Streep’s acting — it’s terrific — would be just a travesty. I’m doing this little piece because I want to express my concern that Netflix sticks to the story, and Greta sticks to the story, because the story is the gospel story, and we shouldn’t change the gospel story because the gospel story is what saves us.
Other cast members reportedly include Emma Mackey as the White Witch in the new movie with Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew, and Carey Mulligan is in talks to play Digory’s mother.
Related: Greta Gerwig’s NARNIA Movie Breaks a 75-Year Tradition. Would C.S. Lewis Approve?
Production on the movie started last weekend around London’s Bank Station and The Royal Exchange, Screen Rant reported. What’s On Netflix reported that filming will take place across South and South East parts of London, and some of it will be shot at Shepperton Studios.
Some of the 1950s posters put up in the area promote musical acts, theatrical performances, various products and boxing tournaments.
The photos also show a young dark-haired boy and a brown-haired girl with short curly hair acting together. These are likely the actors who play Digory and Polly.
Gerwig’s motive for the time jump is unknown, but Comic Book put together some theories. One idea is that the old professor may be telling his own story aloud to someone and looking back at his time as a boy. Another is that maybe a fictional Lewis is telling his stories to someone in 1955 London, either in this movie itself or in a following movie.
NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW is slated to premiere in theaters on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, in 2026.
Read Next: Netflix Casts Meryl Streep as Aslan? It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
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