According to a fresh Empire Magazine deep-dive, Gerwig’s Netflix adaptation kicks off not with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but with The Magician’s Nephew — the story of how Narnia was born. She’s also shifted the setting from the 1900s to the 1950s, unlocking a rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic inspired by David Bowie, Pete Townshend, and Jimmy Page. “I wanted a rock opera,” Gerwig said. “I wanted it to be big and transporting.”

Visually, things get even bolder. Charn — the dying world Digory and Polly stumble into — is imagined as “an exploded pinball machine,” with visuals nodding to surrealist artist M.C. Escher. Jadis (Emma Mackey) trades her regal fur-and-crown look for a glam-rock, disco-inspired gown, while Meryl Streep voices Aslan — a role Gerwig says came to her in a dream.

Narnia : Overview

Detail	Info
First film	The Magician’s Nephew
Director	Greta Gerwig
Era shift	1900s → 1950s Britain
Aesthetic	Glam-rock + M.C. Escher visuals
Jadis	Emma Mackey
Aslan (voice)	Meryl Streep
Uncle Andrew	Daniel Craig
Digory’s mother	Renamed “Flora” (was Mabel)
Theatrical release	February 12, 2027
Netflix release	April 2, 2027

Even Daniel Craig, who plays the meddling Uncle Andrew, is sold on the vision, calling Gerwig “like a unicorn as a director.” It’s a divisive, deeply personal take — but as Gerwig puts it, this is unmistakably her Narnia.

For more first-look breakdowns and casting reveals, check out Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew — Cast List & Character Breakdowns and other upcoming Netflix movie news on TechnoSports.