Unlocking the Secrets: How Netflix's Chronicles of Narnia Reboot Can Guarantee Success
Netflix's Chronicles of Narnia reboot must avoid the pitfalls of Disney's mixed-reviewed trilogy Discover why Greta Gerwig and the streaming giant should learn from past mistakes, including handling religious themes and ensuring the content is suitable for its audience
Highlights
The upcoming Chronicles of Narnia reboot on Netflix has generated a lot of buzz thanks to director Greta Gerwig's involvement.
The Disney films of Narnia were met with varied reception, with the initial installment being the most adored while the follow-ups failed to impress.
Given the deep Christian undertones present in the Narnia series, it may prove to be a challenging task to adapt without religious support. However, Gerwig's expertise in adapting established intellectual property makes her the ideal candidate for this revitalization.
Netflix's upcoming reboot of "The Chronicles of Narnia" has generated significant buzz, especially with the news of Greta Gerwig, renowned director of the Barbie franchise, being chosen to create two films for the series. While Netflix is renowned for adapting existing intellectual property, it came as a surprise to many when they decided to tackle the "Chronicles of Narnia" series after Disney's unsuccessful attempt less than 20 years ago.
However, everything changed with the announcement of Greta Gerwig's involvement on July 2nd. Since then, fans of Gerwig, Narnia, and children's literature as a whole have been eagerly discussing how she will positively impact the franchise. In order to pave the way for this reboot, it would be beneficial for Netflix to address and learn from the mistakes made in Disney's 2000s adaptation of Narnia.
Disney's Narnia trilogy received mixed reviews
C.S. Lewis' acclaimed series was last adapted for the screen in the late 2000s by Disney. Three feature films were released to coincide with the first three novels in the Narnia series: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in 2005, Prince Caspian in 2008, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 2010. Among these films, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is widely considered the most beloved, while Prince Caspian and Dawn Treader received less favorable responses upon their initial release. Although Prince Caspian found its audience over time, the sequels failed to live up to the success of the first film.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe possessed all the qualities of a successful fantasy film, captivating its younger target audience with its solid storytelling methods. It artfully created a sense of enchantment and excitement in depicting the magical world. The childlike wonder that permeated every aspect of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was so essential to its impact on viewers that it quickly became a classic in the children's fantasy genre. With its overwhelmingly positive reception, the sequel was highly anticipated as the potential start of a franchise on par with Harry Potter.
Following its release, Prince Caspian initially received a lukewarm response from audiences, despite now being widely loved. The film failed to capture the magic that had endeared fans to the first installment of the Narnia series. While remaining faithful to the source material, Prince Caspian took a storyline that risked being too mature for its intended audience.
Taking place one year after the events of the first film (or 1,300 Narnian years, if we consider C.S. Lewis' complex timelines), Prince Caspian portrays Narnians as nearly extinct, having suffered under a brutal usurping of the throne. When Prince Caspian calls upon the Pevensie family for help in liberating the Narnians, they find themselves thrust into a devastating war with significant casualties on both sides. Although Prince Caspian had its merits (such as the well-received casting of Ben Barnes in the titular role), it effectively dampened any excitement for future Narnia movies, with The Dawn Treader serving as the franchise's final farewell.
Religious themes in the Narnia stories
The deep-rooted Christian theological themes in The Chronicles of Narnia series are arguably its most divisive aspect. C.S. Lewis, a renowned Christian apologist, crafted a seven-book Christian allegory that leaves little room for interpretation. The symbolic representation of characters, settings, and story arcs in the series make the connection to Christianity undeniable. One would have to actively ignore the text to not see Narnia as a long-form pseudo-Bible fanfiction.
Gerwig and Netflix may face challenges in developing this new adaptation due to the strong Christian undertones. Aslan, portrayed as Lion Jesus, was unapologetically embraced in the Disney movies, as the fantastical retelling of Bible stories is integral to the source material. The emotional climax of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe revolves around Aslan sacrificing himself and being reborn to redeem Edmund's "sins". While Prince Caspian played down the religious allusions compared to its predecessor, they were still present in the imagery of the final battle. Dawn Treader fully embraced this religious iconography, with Aslan describing his "country" as an unreachable utopia and assuring Lucy of his continuous watchfulness in the real world, albeit under a different name.
What could Gerwig take away from these films?
Even without the "Aslan Is Jesus" angle, Christian themes permeate the books through the motivations, actions, and fates of the main characters. Susan's exclusion from Narnia, for instance, exemplifies the consequences of prioritizing personal desires over faith in a world that previously rejected her. While it may be challenging to envision a Narnia adaptation devoid of this religious essence, it is not impossible. Exploring the notion of Aslan as a manipulative figure, intriguingly, offers a fresh perspective for non-religious readers.
When it comes to adapting existing IP, Greta Gerwig has proven herself as the go-to filmmaker, thanks to Barbie and Little Women. Her remarkable talent and passion shine through in all her projects, as she expertly balances honoring the history of the source material while bringing a contemporary twist to revolutionize the original story. In the case of Narnia, Gerwig is exactly what the franchise needs, as she can capture the emotional essence of the books, the 1980s adaptation, and the Disney films, and present a refreshing and innovative perspective.
Despite the flaws in the Disney trilogy, there are numerous positive elements that Gerwig could draw inspiration from. If she decides to adapt the same stories, honoring the movies would surely attract a dedicated following from fans of the originals. She could bring back the main actors in cameo roles, incorporate certain aspects of the visual design of this Narnia, or expand upon the captivating world and characters that Disney introduced to a whole new generation. Greta Gerwig has an abundance of material to ignite her own imagination for Narnia.
