Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew has officially moved into 2027, with Netflix confirming a global theatrical and IMAX release before the fantasy film arrives on the streaming service.
The film will open in theaters and IMAX on Feb. 12, 2027, with sneak previews beginning exclusively on IMAX screens on Feb. 10. It will then stream globally on Netflix starting April 2, 2027.
The announcement also comes with the official title treatment and a first look at Gerwig on the set of the highly anticipated adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew.
Greta Gerwig Brings The Magician’s Nephew to the Screen
Gerwig is writing and directing the fantasy adventure, which adapts The Magician’s Nephew, the sixth novel in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series.
The story serves as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and explores the creation of Narnia by Aslan, the cosmic lion at the center of the story.
The film follows two children, Diggory and Polly, who become the first to discover the mysterious Wood between the Worlds after Diggory’s uncle gives them a magical ring.
David McKenna plays Diggory, while Beatrice Campbell joins him as Polly. The cast also includes Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep.
Mackey plays Jadis, also known as the White Witch, who becomes the antagonist of the series.
Theaters and IMAX Before Netflix
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew was previously scheduled for a Thanksgiving 2026 theatrical release, but Netflix has now shifted the film to February 2027.
The new release schedule gives the movie a worldwide theatrical launch on Feb. 12, followed by its Netflix debut on April 2.
IMAX audiences will get an earlier opportunity to see the film, with sneak previews beginning Feb. 10. The theatrical release marks an important part of Netflix’s plan for Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, giving the film a major-screen run before its streaming debut.
Gerwig said she is looking forward to audiences seeing the movie in theaters on Feb. 12 and then watching it on Netflix from April 2.
A Story About the Creation of Narnia
The Magician’s Nephew takes place before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and reveals how the world of Narnia came into existence.
At the center of that origin story is Aslan, whose creation of Narnia is one of the defining elements of the book.
Gerwig has described the idea of a cosmic lion singing a world into existence as one of the concepts that stayed with her from childhood.
For Gerwig, Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia was also an introduction to the idea of magic, hidden worlds and adventure. She has said the books made her believe that an ordinary person could be swept into an epic story and that wonder could be found anywhere.
Greta Gerwig on Returning to a Childhood Favorite
Gerwig said she was a child when she first read The Magician’s Nephew and immediately connected with its unusual vision of Narnia.
She specifically recalled being fascinated by the idea of a cosmic lion singing the world into existence. The concept of a universe built out of music, she said, remained with her long before she knew she would become a filmmaker.
Gerwig described the opportunity to bring that world to the screen as an honor and connected the project to the sense of wonder she experienced while reading Lewis’ books.
“Working with Netflix to bring this film to life has been extraordinary,” Gerwig said, while also describing IMAX as an important partner on the project.
She said The Chronicles of Narnia shaped her belief in magic, hidden worlds and adventure, as well as the idea that anyone could become part of something epic.
The Cast of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
The film’s principal cast combines newcomers with established performers.
David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead the young cast as Diggory and Polly. Emma Mackey plays Jadis, while Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep are also part of the ensemble.
McKenna is known for The Lord of the Flies, while Mackey takes on one of the most significant roles in the wider Narnia story as Jadis, the character also known as the White Witch.
The casting brings together the two children at the center of the story with a group of major performers playing characters connected to their journey into the magical world.
Netflix’s New Narnia Adaptation
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew marks Gerwig’s first film in her planned adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy world.
The movie is designed to introduce audiences to the origins of Narnia while presenting the story through Gerwig’s filmmaking approach.
Its February 2027 theatrical release will be followed by a Netflix streaming debut less than two months later, giving the adaptation both a global cinema launch and a worldwide streaming release.
For audiences familiar with The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician’s Nephew offers a story set before the events they know from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. For new viewers, it provides an entry point into the creation of the world itself.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew arrives in theaters and IMAX worldwide on Feb. 12, 2027, with IMAX sneak previews beginning Feb. 10. The film will stream on Netflix from April 2, 2027.
