Narnia starts at the beginning


You may know Narnia from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. That story starts with four kids and a wardrobe. The Magicians Nephew starts earlier. It tells you how Narnia began, how the wardrobe came to be, and how a boy and a girl stumbled into a new world. Greta Gerwig chose that book for her first Narnia film, and that choice tells you a lot about her plan. Netflix and Sony Pictures will release the film wide in US cinemas on February 12, 2027, after IMAX and premium large format previews on February 10, 2027. It will stream on Netflix on April 2, 2027. That makes it Netflix's first wide theatrical release, with a minimum 45 day window in cinemas, according to trade reports. That is a big shift for Netflix. It usually sends films straight to streaming. This time, it wants you in a cinema first. Gerwig writes, directs, and co-produces the film, based on C. S. Lewis 1955 novel The Magicians Nephew. That book is the sixth published Narnia book, but the first in story order. It follows Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two kids in London who find magic rings, travel to other worlds, and witness the birth of Narnia. If you only know the wardrobe story, this film will feel fresh. It is a prequel, but it stands on its own.

The cast is young at the center, huge around them


David McKenna plays Digory Kirke. Beatrice Campbell plays Polly Plummer. Both were found through open casting calls in early 2025. That is a brave choice for a film with a reported 200 to 250 million dollar budget. Gerwig is betting on two young leads to carry a huge fantasy film. If they work, the film will feel real and grounded. If they do not, no amount of CGI can save it. Around them, the cast is stacked. Emma Mackey plays Jadis, the future White Witch and last Queen of Charn. Carey Mulligan plays Flora Kirke, Digory's mother. Daniel Craig plays Andrew Ketterley, Digory's uncle, the magician of the title. Meryl Streep voices Aslan, the great lion who creates Narnia. Ciaran Hinds voices elder Digory. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith plays Frank, a London cabby who becomes the First King of Narnia. That mix is smart. Mackey as Jadis gives the film a young, sharp villain. Craig as Uncle Andrew gives it a selfish, funny, dangerous adult. Streep as Aslan gives it a voice with warmth and weight. Mulligan as Digory's mother gives the story its emotional core. Digory wants to save his sick mother. That wish drives him to make risky choices. That is why the story hurts as well as thrills.

Filming, music, and the trailer that broke records


Principal photography began on August 11, 2025 in London, with location work around Bank Station, the Royal Exchange, and Chelsea Physic Garden, plus studio work at Shepperton and Longcross. Filming wrapped on January 31, 2026, after a reported six week delay due to a cast injury, according to Deadline. Seamus McGarvey served as cinematographer. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, who worked with Gerwig on Barbie, compose the score. Visual effects come from Framestore, Weta FX, and others. The first trailer arrived on October 13, 2026. Reports say it passed 481 million views within days, beating trailer views for Barbie, Wonka, and other big films, as reported in film coverage. The trailer uses Led Zeppelin's 1971 song Stairway to Heaven. That song choice fits Gerwig's reported rock and roll take on Narnia, as described by producer Mark Gordon in earlier interviews. It also signals that this Narnia will not sound like the Walden Media films from the 2000s. It will have its own voice. Empire magazine shared first stills in September 2026, showing Aslan, Uncle Andrew, Jadis, Digory, Polly, Frank, and Strawberry the horse. Those stills gave fans their first real look at the world. Aslan looks majestic, not cute. Jadis looks regal and cold. Digory and Polly look like real kids, not polished child stars. That realism matters for a story about two kids who make big mistakes.

What to watch for on February 12


Watch McKenna and Campbell first. They have to carry a huge film with little star power behind them. Watch Mackey as Jadis too. She has to be terrifying without turning into a cartoon villain. Watch Streep as Aslan. Her voice has to feel both gentle and powerful. A lion who creates a world by singing needs a voice you trust. Watch the creation scene most of all. That scene will tell you if Gerwig understands Narnia. It should feel sacred, not loud. It should feel new, not recycled from other fantasy films. For now, mark February 10 for IMAX previews and February 12 for wide release, with Netflix on April 2, 2027. If you love Narnia, this is the return you have waited for since the Walden films ended. If you never read Lewis, this is a good place to start, because it is the beginning of the story. Bring kids who can handle a bit of darkness, and bring yourself. Narnia is back, and it starts with a song.

Sources and reporting

  1. Netflix via Wikipedia — 1 Nov 2026 · Verifies director, cast, February 12, 2027 wide date, February 10 IMAX previews, April 2 Netflix date
  2. FlickLevel 2027 schedule — 4 Sep 2026 · Verifies February 12, 2027 Narnia date, IMAX previews, Netflix April 2 plan
  3. CinemaBlend 2027 movies — 2026 · Verifies February 2027 Narnia slot, Gerwig direction, family fantasy positioning