Susan And Aslan The Chronicles Of Narnia – Picture: Netflix
2023 marks the fifth anniversary of when Netflix first introduced it had acquired the rights to adapt new Chronicles of Narnia motion pictures and sequence. Since then, issues have been quiet past a few bulletins, however there have been quite a lot of latest developments. Here’s the whole lot we find out about Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia variations as of November 2023.
Before we dive into Netflix’s involvement sooner or later, let’s shortly have a look again at what the ebook sequence is and the way it’s been tailored beforehand.
Note: This is an ongoing article that’ll be up to date over time as we study extra. The final replace was on November twenty eighth, 2023.
What are The Chronicles of Narnia?
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The Chronicles of Narnia is a ebook sequence by the famed writer C.S. Lewis that was revealed within the Nineteen Fifties.
The ebook sequence is a fantasy sequence that transports us to the fictional realm of Narnia. In complete, seven books have been revealed underneath the Chronicles of Narnia banner.
How The Chronicles of Narnia books have been developed earlier than
The sequence has seen a number of variations over time, together with a BBC sequence, a radio sequence, and naturally, the Disney motion pictures.
The ebook sequence’ largest adaptation got here in 2005 when Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media launched the primary film entitled: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
It later launched one other movie that was distributed underneath Disney, with the third film being distributed by twentieth Century Fox. A fourth film was deliberate however by no means materialized.
How and when Netflix scored the Narnia franchise
The information of Netflix teaming up with The C.S. Lewis Company dropped again in October 2018.
Netflix has a “multi-year deal” whereby it is going to have a number of movie and sequence initiatives on the go, all primarily based on the books of Narnia.
Alongside the unique announcement, Ted Sarandos, who’s now the co-CEO of Netflix, stated:
“C.S. Lewis’s beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world,” including, “Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come.”
It was additionally reiterated a number of occasions that Netflix could be adapting Narnia right into a Universe, positioning the sequence to go up towards the likes of Game of Thrones and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit for a extra family-orientated viewers.
You can see extra from the unique press launch over on the official Narnia Facebook submit, however listed below are the primary strains:
“Netflix will develop new sequence and movie initiatives primarily based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved The Chronicles of Narnia sequence. Under the phrases of a multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix will develop traditional tales from throughout the Narnia universe into sequence and movies for its members worldwide.
All sequence and movies produced via the deal might be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as govt producers for sequence and as producers for options.
The most necessary side of the Netflix deal, which makes it extra distinctive than what has come earlier than, is that it has entry to all seven books. This means a number of the later books which have by no means seen variations earlier than might be coming to Netflix, which earlier license house owners haven’t been capable of do.
We know that Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber might be concerned with many of the upcoming Netflix Narnia initiatives.
History of Development of Narnia at Netflix
Below, we’ll take you thru the timeline of Narnia on Netflix because it spreads throughout a few years.
2019 – Matthew Aldrich Becomes Architect of Narnia’s Universe
Months after ready for extra data on Narnia on Netflix, we lastly bought some information on June twelfth, 2019. That information was that Matthew Aldrich could be serving because the inventive architect of the franchise at Netflix.
The information got here that the co-writer for Disney Pixar’s Coco, a multi-award-winning film, will work on Narnia. In a tweet, Netflix’s See What’s Next (since renamed to Netflix Queue) account stated the next:
“Coco co-writer Matthew Aldrich will serve as the creative architect and oversee the development of all films and shows adapted from C.S. Lewis’s beloved Narnia universe for Netflix.”
Picture: Netflix
2020 – All quiet on growth with dribs of data
In January 2020, Narniaweb posted that Douglas Gresham (stepson of C. S. Lewis) has little information of the place Netflix is at with manufacturing.
Jordan Raynor: What is the most recent on this partnership between Netflix and the C. S. Lewis Company?
Douglas Gresham: Yeah, to be sincere, I can’t inform you very a lot in any respect. We did the deal fairly some months in the past and I haven’t heard a phrase since. I imply, I’m listed because the producer, however I’ve heard no phrase on what they plan to do or how they plan to do it or once they plan to do it for that matter. Looking at issues, I don’t know whether or not Netflix is able to rock ‘n roll on this or not, however we’ll discover out sooner or later.
In June 2020, NarniaWeb picked up on a Q&A with the supervisor of Matthew Aldrich, who acknowledged that the Netflix initiatives might be completed from the attitude of youngsters, saying:
“Characters come from understanding folks. Sometimes it’s about having youngsters…
Matt Aldrich can write youngsters proper now as a result of he has youngsters and he talks to them and he’s attempting to determine them out. He runs his scripts by them and he pitches them tales. When they get bored he cuts it, once they get excited he provides it. His two youngsters are a testing room.”
2021 – A point out from Netflix’s head of movie, however nonetheless quiet.
In January 2021, Scott Stuber, who heads Netflix’s movie division, informed the New York Times that Narnia was among the many initiatives predicted to launch “beyond 2021,” which means that though we’d hear of initiatives this yr, we’re not anticipating the discharge of any.
Netflix France is without doubt one of the few Netflix accounts to persistently acknowledge that reveals and films are nonetheless in existence, with the final interplay being on March 14th, 2021.
The solely replace we’ve had relating to Narnia since Netflix France acknowledged its existence was through a supply for NarniaWeb in August 2021, who informed them that the titles are nonetheless in growth.
2022 – Greta Gerwig eyed for motion pictures + sequence nonetheless in growth
In early 2022, we noticed that Ted Biaselli, a community govt at Netflix who’s a “Director of Original Series,” lists Narnia in his LinkedIn bio on the time, studying:
“Spearheaded the formation of the 4-quad Family Programming slate including development and production of Netflix Original Series Fuller House, Haters Back Off, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lost in Space, The Umbrella Academy, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Raising Dion and Green Eggs and Ham, Sweet Tooth and the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia.”
Picture: Getty Images
Then, in late 2022, we bought the large information. We completely reported in November 2022 that Netflix was eying director Greta Gerwig to direct two motion pictures.
2023 – Greta Gerwig Confirmed
Our scoop was confirmed in July 2023 in a profile on Mattel, the place the New Yorker confirmed that Greta Gerwig was on board to direct at the least two motion pictures for Netflix.
Around the time of the discharge of Barbie, Gerwig spoke about the upcoming Netflix motion pictures for the primary time, saying she was “terrified” of them. She informed GamesRadar:
“I haven’t even really started wrapping my arms around it. But I’m properly scared of it, which feels like a good place to start. I think when I’m scared, it’s always a good sign. Maybe when I stop being scared, it’ll be like, ‘Okay. Maybe I shouldn’t do that one.’ No, I’m terrified of it. It’s extraordinary. And so we’ll see, I don’t know.”
In November 2023, Scott Stuber revealed to Variety that Amy Pascal (who labored with Gerwig on Little Women) could be serving as a producer on the undertaking alongside Mark Gordon. Speaking about why Gerwig is ideal because the director, Stuber stated:
“[Gerwig] grew up in a Christian background. The C.S. Lewis books are very much based in Christianity. And so we just started talking about it.”
Scott Stuber and Ted Sarandos – Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage
Collider additionally spoke to Scott Stuber in November 2023 in regards to the acquisition of Narnia and Gerwig’s involvement with the upcoming motion pictures. They one way or the other managed to decipher from his skinny feedback that filming would begin in 2024. However, we are able to’t interpret it in the identical method.
Finally, we must always point out that Biaselli’s LinkedIn profile has been overhauled and now not mentions Narnia. In addition, we don’t fairly know if Matthew Aldrich stays concerned in any type. None of his profiles on the likes of Mastodon or Medium point out his involvement. The weblog submit on Netflix’s About website stays reside, nevertheless.
Where will The Chronicles of Narnia on Netflix begin?
Book cowl for The Complete Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
The Lion, Witch and The Wardrobe is the pure start line for Narnia, on condition that’s the primary ebook and the place Disney selected to start out.
As a reminder, listed below are the books within the so-called “Harper Collins” order:
- The Magician’s Nephew
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- The Horse and His Boy
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Last Battle
In chronological order, nevertheless, the order is as follows:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Horse and His Boy
- The Magician’s Nephew
- The Last Battle
In November 2023, within the Variety piece talked about above, Stuber steered that the flicks is probably not tailored so as, saying:
“Obviously, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is kind of the preeminent one, but there’s such an interesting narrative form [to the Narnia series] if you read all of them. And so that’s what she’s working on now with [producer] Amy Pascal and Mark Gordon and they’re trying to figure out how they can break the whole arc of all of it.”
Our sources informed us in early 2023 that Gerwig’s first adaptation could be of The Silver Chair. Stuber’s feedback do tie into this, although, so we’ll preserve our ears to the bottom on extra because it’s but to be confirmed. Netflix didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Book cowl for The Silver Chair
That’s all we all know to this point. There’s rather a lot to be introduced, rather a lot to be enthusiastic about, and rather a lot to be realized. We’ll be there each step of the way in which to see what’s in retailer for Narnia on Netflix.
Are you enthusiastic about Narnia on Netflix? Let us know within the feedback.