Greta Gerwig on C.S. Lewis's Legacy and the New Narnia Film

In a new interview, Greta Gerwig spoke about the legacy of C.S. Lewis and the making of the new Narnia film. At an exclusive event for the early IMAX screening of Netflix's new film, Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, she discussed the influence of the works of C.S.

In a new interview, Greta Gerwig talked about the legacy of CS Lewis and the making of the new Narnia film.

Greta Gerwig spoke about the influence of C.S. Lewis's works on her life, the role of faith in filmmaking and the difficult responsibility of recreating the beloved world of Narnia for a new generation at a special event for the early screening of the IMAX version of Netflix's new film, Narnia: The Magician's Nephew. In an emotional tone, this director spoke of the books that, in his opinion, formed an important part of his personality and worldview.

The event was held at AMC Lincoln Square 13 in New York and, in addition to screenings of the film, included a conversation between Gerwig and former late-night host Steven Kleber. In this event, Gerwig wore a silver brooch with an apple and milk pattern on her dress, which referred to the atmosphere of the film.

The colorful and imaginative trailer of the film showed the first scenes of Gerwig's take on the world of Lewis. In these shots, the teenage characters of the story, Digory Kirk and Polly Plummer, are introduced. Daniel Craig also appeared in the role of Uncle Andrew, a strange character, and Jadis, the white witch, is another important figure in the story.

This trailer is accompanied by the song Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Gerwig revealed that the band's lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page personally agreed to use the piece in the film due to their love of Lewis' work. Other highlights of the trailer include close-ups of Narnia's famous wardrobe, magnificent views of the fictional world, and Polly and Diggory's flight atop the winged horse, Fledge. At the end, the roaring shadow of Aslan, the great lion and the symbol of Christ in the world of Narnia, appears before the astonished eyes of the children; The moment that is considered one of the most expected parts of the new adaptation.

David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell play Diggory and Polly, and Emma Mackey stars as Jadis. Other cast members include Carey Mulligan, Kieran Hinds, Kobena Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Vukma. Mark Ronson and Andrew White compose the soundtrack of the film; Two artists who had previously worked with Gerwig on Barbie.

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew movie trailer

In an interview with Colbert, Gerwig explained that the film was the result of a lifelong relationship with Lewis's books. He did not have a television as a child, but his parents provided a set to show him the 1980s BBC television adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia; A collection that, according to him, he still likes and does not find any fault with. He said:

I don't remember a time when I didn't know books. These stories are part of my DNA… these books made me.

The director of Lady Bird and Little Women said his deep interest in the source material set the direction for the film. He began writing the first draft of the script in 2020, and over the next few years, he collected lines from Lewis's books that he says sent shivers down his spine for inspiration.

To get to know the author better, Gerwig also turned to his theological works. As an adult, he read Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy, Lewis's spiritual autobiography, and studied the works of writers who had influenced Lewis to understand his intellectual roots; Among them, George Macdonald, a Scottish Christian writer whose fantasy writings played a role in shaping Lewis's imagination.

These researches took him to Oxford, Cambridge and Belfast in Northern Ireland; The city where Lewis was born. Lewis, who died in 1963, and with J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, was a close friend, one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the 20th century. The seven-volume series The Chronicles of Narnia, published between 1950 and 1956, has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been adapted many times for film and television. This collection is known for its use of Christian symbolism.

The Magician's Nephew, published in 1955, is a prequel to the better-known story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The story takes place about a thousand years before the events of the second book and narrates the origin of Narnia and the entry of evil forces into this newly created world. The story begins with the discovery of a way to travel between worlds by Digory and Polly; The path that brings them face to face with Jadis. Jadis's actions are a threat to the innocence of Narnia. This book also introduces Aslan as the creator of the magical land; A character who is the main symbol of Christ in Lewis's world.

When Colbert asked about the influence of Lewis's faith on his filmmaking, Gerwig recalled her childhood and singing in the church choir.

Cinema and faith have always been next to each other.

He also emphasized the importance of community and collective cooperation, both in personal life and in the filmmaking process. Despite the vast scale of the production, Gerwig repeatedly returned to the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder in the story. He emphasized that he makes his films for the big screen and hopes that the audience will laugh, cry and feel like they have been on a big epic adventure. He also hopes that the film will encourage the audience to create new works and experiences.

However, the choice of Meryl Streep to voice Aslan has become a controversial issue. In previous Narnia adaptations, Liam Neeson voiced this iconic character. Some conservative Christian commentators believe that assigning Aslan's voice to a woman diminishes the character's theological symbolizing power. In contrast, the family of Lewis' adopted sons, David and Douglas Grisham, recently issued a statement supporting Gerwig and her vision for the series.

In our ongoing conversations with Greta Gerwig, the film's director, we have personally witnessed her sincere passion for the Narnia series. His longtime love for Si. S. Lewis is obvious to everyone involved in this film.

Gerwig has not yet directly responded to the Aslan voice actor gender controversy, but has previously said that he is looking for an actor who can convey the wisdom and wonder of a child well. The film Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will start its IMAX previews on February 10, 2027 (21 February 1405) and will be widely released in theaters on February 12 (Friday 23 February 1405). This movie will also be released on Netflix on April 2, 2027 (Friday, April 13, 1405).