Netflix’s upcoming ‘Narnia’ film reveals change to popular character

Greta Gerwig has never been afraid to put her own stamp on familiar narratives. With Barbie, she demonstrated how an established universe could be revitalized through a distinctly different approach.

Now, the director has taken on one of fantasy literature’s most beloved tales, and expectations for the result are enormous.

Netflix has released the first trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which aims to reintroduce C.S. Lewis’ magical universe to a new audience.

But even before its premiere, Gerwig’s interpretation has sparked debate.

The appearance of one of the fantasy genre’s most iconic villains, in particular, has garnered attention, and now a very brief sequence in the trailer has revealed something that could change the audience’s perception of the film.

Narnia Gets a Significantly Different Look

Greta Gerwig has chosen to begin her new film series with The Magician’s Nephew, which is chronologically the first story in the Narnia universe.

The story explores, among other things, how the magical land is created and how the terrifying Jadis becomes connected to the world.

However, Gerwig does not intend to slavishly follow the books’ time period.

Where C.S. Lewis originally set the action around the early 1900s, the director has moved the story to the 1950s.

At the same time, she has introduced a visual universe inspired by rock ‘n’ roll, fashion, and post-war popular culture.

This choice has particularly influenced Jadis, who later becomes known as the White Witch.

The White Witch Receives an Unusual Makeover

Emma Mackey, known from Barbie among other works, plays Jadis in Netflix’s upcoming film.

However, the first images of her character have been quite different from the appearance many associate with the famous villain.

Instead of long, majestic robes, Jadis appears in a short dress composed of shimmering, diamond-shaped plates.

Metallic armor around her arms and silver-colored boots complete a costume that rather evokes futuristic 1960s fashion.

C.S. Lewis, however, described Jadis as a tall, pale, and elegantly dressed figure.

In The Magician’s Nephew, she wears, among other things, an expensive gown and a crown, while her later appearance in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is associated with white fur and an icy, regal expression.

Previous film adaptations have more closely followed the traditional design.

Tilda Swinton’s portrayal of the White Witch in the 2005 Disney film, in particular, has resonated with many viewers.

Consequently, Netflix’s more modern version has received a mixed reception among fans of the books.

Short Clip Reveals a Completely Different Witch

Amidst the trailer’s many images, however, there is a sequence of about one second that could be significant for the film’s interpretation of Jadis.

Here, Emma Mackey’s character suddenly appears in a completely different costume.

The short scene shows her wearing a long, glittering white dress with fur around her shoulders and a tall crown on her head.

At the same time, both her hair and skin appear significantly lighter than in the other scenes.

The look is much more reminiscent of the classic White Witch that audiences know from the books and previous film adaptations.

Thus, the trailer suggests that the controversial silver costume may not necessarily be the character’s permanent appearance.

Netflix has not yet explained the significance of this transformation in the story.

Could Reveal Something About the Film’s Plot

There are several possible explanations for why Jadis appears in two such different versions.

The scene could, for example, show a flashback to her past in the magical realm of Charn, where she battles for power.

Alternatively, it could be a glimpse of her future form as the White Witch.

In C.S. Lewis’ stories, Jadis later becomes responsible for the prolonged winter that strikes Narnia before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

If Gerwig already introduces the familiar version of the villain, it could therefore be a way to create a connection between the upcoming film and the rest of the stories.

Both explanations are, however, currently speculation.

Greta Gerwig Aims to Put Her Own Stamp on the Classic

The director has previously hinted that Jadis may have a more unusual role in her interpretation of the story.

During an interview with Empire, Gerwig, for example, drew a connection between Narnia and British musician David Bowie’s distinctive style.

“I don’t know how you went from David Jones to David Bowie unless you went to Narnia and saw something,” she said.

David Jones was Bowie’s original name before he created his famous artistic identity.

The statement suggests that Gerwig is playing with the idea that Narnia’s magical universe could influence fashion and culture in the human world.

This is an idea that does not originate from Lewis’ original books but fits the director’s ambition to give the story its own unique character.

Netflix Still Keeping Cards Close to Its Chest

Although the first trailer has revealed several details, there are still unanswered questions about the film’s plot.

Jadis’ two different appearances, in particular, have sparked curiosity about how closely Gerwig will follow the books’ story.

However, the traditional white dress and crown show that the director has not completely abandoned the classic interpretation of the character.

For now, it is unknown whether the familiar figure will have a prominent role in the film or merely make a brief appearance.

The answer will only come when Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew premieres on Netflix.

This article is made and published by Nicolai H, who may have used AI in the preparation