Carey Mulligan is headed to Narnia. According to Variety, the Oscar-nominated actress is in negotiations to join Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia adaptation at Netflix. If the deal goes through, she’ll be joining an already stacked cast that includes Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, and Emma Mackey.
Gerwig is taking on the ambitious task of rebooting The Chronicles of Narnia for a new generation, writing and directing the first film in what could be a larger franchise.
The first film in the franchise is said to be The Magician’s Nephew, the sixth book published in C.S. Lewis’s classic fantasy series, but the first in the story’s chronological timeline.
It may be a lesser-known title but, I like the decision, it could be the perfect setup to explore the deeper mythology of Narnia before reintroducing the Pevensie kids and that iconic wardrobe.
Set long before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew follows two curious children, Digory and Polly, who stumble into alternate worlds using magic rings crafted by Digory’s eccentric uncle (Craig). Their journey takes them to the “Wood between the Worlds,” where they witness the birth of Narnia, sung into existence by the great lion Aslan (Streep).
Mackey is set to play the White Witch, and Mulligan, if confirmed, will take on the role of Digory’s ailing mother, an emotional anchor in the story that gives Digory his motivation and moral conflict as he seeks a cure for her illness in the magical world.
While casting is still underway, Gerwig’s vision is clearly attracting high-caliber talent. Coming off the global phenomenon of Barbie, her pivot to a sprawling, deeply spiritual fantasy saga like Narnia is a interesting choice for her and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does with it.
Netflix has yet to announce a release date, but with this cast and creative team, this next trip to Narnia might just be worth the wait.
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