Greta Gerwig Features Bowie in Trailer for Psychedelic Thriller 'The Magician's Nephew'

"Have You Ever Seen a World Being Born?"

Greta Gerwig channels Bowie in psychedelic thriller The Magician's Nephew

Director Greta Gerwig could make almost any movie she wanted after Barbie grossed nearly $1.5 billion at the box office in 2023. He decided to make Narnia: The Magician's Nephew for Netflix, an adaptation of the sixth novel by C.S. Lois is in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Gerwig hasn't said anything publicly about the film, other than that it was inspired by 1960s-era David Bowie, although he said it won't be a musical. Netflix just released this trailer set to Stairway to Heaven, and it's downright psychedelic.

The first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was published in 1950, and Lewis initially had no intention of writing any more Narnia stories. But then an acquaintance asked how the London lamppost ended up in the middle of Narnia's forest, and Lewis was intrigued enough to find the answer by starting a prequel called The Witch's Nephew. Lewis barely finished this book, however, first writing four more Narnia books before completing The Wizard's Nephew in 1955.

There have been several adaptations, in various media, of The Chronicles of Narnia, most recently the early 2000s film franchise based on the first three novels in the series. However, these films had diminishing returns and by 2011 the film rights had expired. There were early plans to adapt the fourth novel, The Silver Chair.

The original book was set in 1900, but Gerwig changed the scene to 1950s, post-war London. Diggory Kirk (David McKenna) lives next door to Polly Plummer (Beatrice Campbell), and the two embark on a magical journey to other worlds after Diggory's eccentric uncle, Andrew Catterley (Daniel Craig), tricks them into trying magic rings. Diggory then accidentally releases the evil Queen Jadis (Emma Mackie, who played Physicist Barbie in Barbie) from a sleeping spell and chaos ensues.

The cast also includes Kobena Holdbrook Smith as a London cabbie named Frank. Ava Jagger as Polly's sister Violet; Carey Mulligan as Diggory's mother, Flora; Tom Bonnington as Mr. Potts; Ciaran Hinds as the mature Diggory. and Meryl Streep's voice. Dennis Gough, Susan Vukuma, Gerard Monaco, James Murray and Samantha Spiro also appear in yet-to-be-revealed roles.

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew hits theaters on February 12, 2027. It will begin streaming on Netflix on April 2, 2027. This is the first Netflix movie to have a wide theatrical release. Gerwig has a two-picture deal for Netflix's Narnia series, so we might get her take on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe next (assuming she follows the books chronologically).

Diggory (David McKenna) and Polly (Beatrice Campbell) are neighbors in post-World War II London.

Diggory's uncle Andrew (Daniel Craig) is the wizard of the title.

Diggory accidentally awakens the evil Jadis (Emma Mackie).

Jadis will become the White Witch in the first novel of this series.

Aslan (Meryl Streep) creates Narnia.

Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a special focus on the intersection of science and culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite movies and TV series. Jennifer with her husband, physicist Sean M. Carol and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban, live in Baltimore.