Netflix has released the first trailer for Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, the highly anticipated adaptation directed by Greta Gerwig that takes audiences to the very origin of the universe created by C.S. Lewis. The two-and-a-half-minute preview confirms that the filmmaker behind Little Women and Barbie has left her personal mark on this story, blending classic fantasy with a distinctively glam-rock aesthetic.
Unlike previous Narnia adaptations, this film focuses on the chronologically first story in the literary saga: the birth of the world of Narnia itself and the origin of Jadis, the character who would later become the White Witch. The story serves as a direct prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The main cast includes Daniel Craig as Andrew Ketterley, Emma Mackey as Jadis, Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, David McKenna as Digory Kirke, and Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer. Additionally, Meryl Streep provides the voice for Aslan, although the trailer does not yet reveal her performance of the character.
A trailer marked by 70s rock
The preview uses Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven as its soundtrack, marking the first time the band has authorized the use of this song in a film. The choice is not accidental: Gerwig explained in an interview with Empire that she conceives of Narnia as a world literally made of music, sung into life by Aslan, and that rock and roll felt like the most natural way to represent that idea.
The trailer progresses in a practically chronological manner regarding the book's plot, showing first the famous wardrobe, then the protagonists' arrival at the Wood Between the Worlds, their journey through the world of Charn, the awakening of Jadis, and finally, the creation of Narnia by Aslan.
The Narnia wardrobe, a nod to the entire saga
The trailer opens with an image of the iconic wardrobe from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is a striking detail, as that object does not physically appear in the novel The Magician's Nephew. However, the book itself reveals that the wardrobe was carved from the wood of a tree born from an enchanted Narnian apple, which explains its presence as a symbolic preview.
Polly and Digory, the heart of the story
The preview introduces the two protagonists, Digory (David McKenna) and Polly (Beatrice Campbell), whose curiosity places them at the center of the chaos that will eventually lead to the creation of Narnia.
Daniel Craig as the eccentric Uncle Andrew Ketterley
Daniel Craig plays Andrew Ketterley, a selfish, vain, and cowardly magician who works from a cluttered laboratory in London. It is he who gives Polly and Digory the magic rings capable of transporting them to other worlds.
The Wood Between the Worlds
Once equipped with the rings, the protagonists arrive at the Wood Between the Worlds, a mystical forest filled with pools that connect multiple universes, including the path to Charn.
First look at Charn, Jadis’s home world
The trailer shows the world of Charn for the first time in a live-action adaptation: a desolate and destroyed city, illuminated by a reddish sun. There, Jadis is found, played by Emma Mackey, trapped in a statue-like sleep until a golden bell awakens her.
After being awakened by Digory, Jadis appears wearing a striking disco-inspired silver outfit and wields a wand that glows in shades of green, red, and yellow, reinforcing the glam-rock aesthetic that defines this version of the story.
Jadis’s attack in London
Once awake, Jadis pursues Polly and Digory to London, where she uses her magic to sow chaos. This is a significant change from the original novel, in which the character cannot use her magical powers on Earth.
In one of the shots of destruction, the pub The Eagle and Child can be seen in the background, a direct nod to the place in Oxford where J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the literary group known as the Inklings regularly met.
The winged horse Fledge
Another of the most iconic moments in the trailer shows Polly and Digory flying on a winged horse. In the original story, the animal is a London delivery horse named Strawberry, to whom Aslan grants the gift of speech and the ability to fly, renaming him Fledge and making him the ancestor of all Narnian winged horses.
Jadis’s transformation into the White Witch
The preview confirms that we will see Jadis's transformation into the White Witch, shown in a white, icy dress against a blue forest landscape, wielding an almost transparent-looking wand, different from the one she used in Charn.
The arrival of Aslan and the creation of Narnia
The final sequence of the trailer, arguably the most spectacular, shows the arrival of Aslan as an ethereal entity that shapes the world of Narnia through an explosion of color and music. The trailer does not yet allow us to hear Meryl Streep's voice as Aslan.
How the public has reacted to the trailer
The initial reaction on social media has been mostly positive, though not without divided opinions. Several users have highlighted Greta Gerwig's characteristic visual style as one of the major strengths, while others have compared the tone of the trailer to the aesthetic of Doctor Who, which some see as a success and others as a point of friction.
Among the comments shared on social media, enthusiastic reactions stand out regarding the final seconds of the preview, focused on the appearance of Aslan, as well as messages expressing full confidence in the director's vision despite some initial uncertainty about the chosen visual style.
Release date for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will arrive in theaters first on February 12, 2027, before its subsequent arrival on Netflix on April 2, 2027.
Frequently asked questions about Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
When is Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew released?
The film will arrive in theaters on February 12, 2027, and will subsequently be added to the Netflix catalog on April 2, 2027.
Who directs Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew?
The film is directed by Greta Gerwig, previously known for directing Little Women and Barbie.
Who is in the cast of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew?
The cast includes Daniel Craig as Andrew Ketterley, Emma Mackey as Jadis, Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, David McKenna as Digory Kirke, and Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, in addition to Meryl Streep providing the voice for Aslan.
What is Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew about?
The story recounts the origin of the world of Narnia, showing how the universe itself was created and how the character of Jadis later became the White Witch, serving as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
What song plays in the Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew trailer?
The trailer uses Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, marking the first time the band has authorized the use of this song in a film.
