Nicolai Haugsted
The adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s classic is just around the corner, but it’s worth noting that there are significant changes from the source material.
Greta Gerwig has been tasked with bringing one of fantasy’s most beloved universes back to the big screen. However, even before its premiere, her interpretation of C.S. Lewis’s famous books has sparked debate.
The director, previously behind Barbie and Little Women, reportedly does not intend to follow the source material slavishly.
Netflix’s upcoming blockbuster Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is said to feature significant changes to both the universe’s aesthetic and the story’s historical setting.
The latter, in particular, is now drawing criticism from CBR, which believes the decision could create serious problems if Netflix intends to adapt all seven books.
Netflix Jumps 50 Years Forward in Time
The story in The Magician’s Nephew originally takes place around 1900, where readers witness, among other things, how the magical land of Narnia is created.
According to information cited by CBR, Gerwig’s film will instead set the action in the 1950s.
This replaces the book’s Victorian and Edwardian setting with a period characterized by new cultural currents and the emergence of rock music.
At first glance, the change might seem relatively innocent. Narnia is, after all, a fantasy land where talking animals and magical creatures do not exactly follow ordinary historical rules.
The problem is that C.S. Lewis’s stories have a very specific connection to real-world history.
CBR highlights, for example, the character Frank, who works as a cab driver in London before becoming king in Narnia.
His journey from a humble social position to royal dignity reflects, according to the outlet, Lewis’s criticism of class divisions in British society around the turn of the century.
By moving the narrative half a century forward, the film risks altering the historical context upon which several of the book’s themes are built.
World War II Creates a Bigger Problem
The most troublesome consequence, however, may only become apparent if Netflix continues with the other books.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, previously adapted as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, takes place during World War II.
Here, the four Pevensie siblings are sent away from London to escape German bombing raids.
Their stay in the countryside leads them to the famous wardrobe, which serves as an entrance to Narnia.
But if Netflix maintains the original chronological relationship between the books after moving The Magician’s Nephew to the 1950s, the subsequent story could end up taking place in the 1990s.
This would eliminate World War II as the historical reason for the children’s evacuation.
CBR argues that precisely this change could be difficult to manage without rewriting significant parts of the narrative.
However, Netflix has not announced a comprehensive timeline for any subsequent films, so it remains uncertain how Gerwig and the company will resolve the issue.
Meryl Streep and Rock Music Also Spark Debate
The temporal shift is far from the only creative choice that has attracted attention.
According to CBR, Meryl Streep is set to voice Aslan the lion, who plays a central role in Lewis’s stories.
Aslan is traditionally portrayed as a male figure and has clear Christian symbolic functions.
Therefore, the reported casting has sparked debate about how closely Gerwig’s film will adhere to the books’ religious themes.
CBR is highly critical of the decision, arguing that the change risks alienating parts of the original audience.
At the same time, Gerwig has reportedly described her approach to the film as inspired by the rock music she grew up with, including David Bowie.
The director has also referred to the project as a kind of rock opera.
This is a considerably different musical direction than what many associate with Lewis’s classic fantasy universe.
Seven Books Give Netflix Grand Ambitions
Netflix has the opportunity to explore far more of the Narnia universe than previous adaptations.
The last major film series began with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2005 but stopped after three films.
Thus, the producers never got through all seven books.
Gerwig’s new film, on the other hand, is based on the story of Narnia’s creation, which is chronologically first in the universe’s history.
This gives Netflix the opportunity to build a larger, cohesive film series from the beginning.
However, CBR believes that the extensive changes could make that ambition more difficult to achieve.
The outlet calls for a more faithful adaptation and questions whether Gerwig’s personal interpretation risks overshadowing Lewis’s original narrative.
The criticism is currently an assessment of the published information, not a judgment of the finished film.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is expected to premiere in theaters in February 2027, according to the material mentioned.
Only when the film premieres will it be possible to see how extensive the changes actually are and whether Gerwig has found a way to reconcile her own vision with Lewis’s classic universe.
