Netflix Taps Barbie Movie Director for Narnia Franchise: Exciting Updates Revealed

Netflix's reboot of The Chronicles of Narnia has finally received an update. Greta Gerwig, known for her work on Barbie, has been chosen to write and direct two films in the franchise. The original Chronicles of Narnia was released in 2005, followed by two sequels in 2008 and 2010. However, due to a decline in critical and commercial success, the franchise has been dormant since then. In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to the books and announced their plans for more movies. Despite limited development updates, The New Yorker now reveals that Gerwig is contracted to write and direct at least two films. The exact number of films to adapt C.S. Lewis' seven novels remains unknown, as does the production timeline for these movies.

What Greta Gerwig Directing Means For Netflix's Chronicles of Narnia

Gerwig has primarily worked on smaller character dramas, such as Nights and Weekends, Lady Bird, and Little Women – her only three feature films released so far. Barbie, however, is her largest project to date, yet early trailers suggest that it continues to showcase her unique humor, focus on nuanced characters, and touching themes. The initial online response to Barbie has been mostly positive, and her ability to handle a bigger budget for an adaptation of existing intellectual property may influence how she approaches her Chronicles of Narnia films.

Mattel appears to have granted Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach the freedom to create the movie they desire, similar to Netflix's approach with their own talent. Despite this creative freedom, Gerwig has demonstrated her thoughtful approach to adapting beloved novels through her success with Little Women.

Netflix's upcoming adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia, under the direction of Gerwig, shows promise as an intriguing revival of the beloved franchise. This project has the potential to seamlessly combine Gerwig's distinctive style as a filmmaker, known for crafting intricate and captivating female characters, with a true appreciation for Lewis' original work. Serving as Gerwig's inaugural venture into the realm of large-scale fantasy storytelling, the Chronicles of Narnia has the opportunity to breathe new life into a franchise that had experienced dwindling audience engagement in the past.