Narnia on screen
From the 1967 television serial to Greta Gerwig's film, on screen, on the radio and on stage: sixty years of adaptations. Lewis himself distrusted a flesh-and-blood Aslan.
The cinema
- Lewis refused an Aslan played by an actor.
- BBC 1988-1990, films 2005-2010.
- Greta Gerwig's film: in cinemas on 12 February 2027 (IMAX previews on the 10th), on Netflix worldwide on 2 April 2027; in France, only on Netflix.
What Lewis thought of it
In his lifetime, Lewis refused the idea of a live-action film: he feared that an Aslan played by an actor in costume would turn into farce. He did accept animation, provided it was not too 'Disney'. Digital effects have changed the position.
All the adaptations
- 1967 (Television): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (ABC Weekend TV (ITV)). A serial of 10 episodes, broadcast live. Almost all of it is lost.
- 1979 (Animation): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (in French: L'Armoire magique) (Bill Melendez, CBS / ITV). An animated film of 95 minutes, an Emmy Award for the best animated programme. Shown in France in the 1980s.
- 1988-1990 (Television): The Chronicles of Narnia (BBC). The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988), Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989), The Silver Chair (1990). Warwick Davis plays Reepicheep; Tom Baker plays Puddleglum.
- 1988-1997 (Radio): The Chronicles of Narnia (BBC Radio 4). The seven books as radio serials.
- 1998-2003 (Radio): The Chronicles of Narnia (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre). A large-scale audio production, with Paul Scofield (narrator) and David Suchet (Aslan).
- 1998 (Theatre): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Royal Shakespeare Company). Adrian Mitchell's adaptation. There are many other stage versions, including musicals.
- 2005 (Cinema): The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Andrew Adamson, Walden Media / Disney). About 745 million dollars at the box office. An Oscar for best make-up.
- 2008 (Cinema): The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Andrew Adamson, Walden Media / Disney). About 420 million dollars. Ben Barnes plays Caspian.
- 2010 (Cinema): The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Michael Apted, Walden Media / 20th Century Fox). About 415 million dollars. Will Poulter plays Eustace.
- 2017-2019 (Theatre): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Sally Cookson, Leeds then the Bridge Theatre (London), on tour). A very physical production, with puppets and music.
- 2027 (Cinema / Netflix): Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (Greta Gerwig, Netflix). In cinemas on 12 February 2027 (IMAX previews from 10 February) in the countries where the film is released in cinemas, then on Netflix worldwide on 2 April 2027. In France, no cinema release has been announced: the film is expected only on Netflix, on 2 April 2027. With Meryl Streep (the voice of Aslan), Emma Mackey (Jadis), Daniel Craig (Uncle Andrew), Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds; David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell play Digory and Polly.
The Walden Media saga (2005-2010)
Three films, and three different tones. The first is faithful and warm. Prince Caspian is darker and more warlike; it adds a night attack on Miraz's castle that is not in the book. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader invents a malevolent green mist to tie the islands together. Disney left the series after the second film, and Fox took over the third. The Silver Chair, announced several times, was never filmed.
The Netflix era
In 2018, the C.S. Lewis Company signed an agreement with Netflix covering all the Chronicles. Greta Gerwig writes and directs The Magician's Nephew, the very first adaptation of The Magician's Nephew. Filmed in the United Kingdom, the film was first planned for Thanksgiving 2026, then put back to February 2027. The first trailer came out on 13 October 2026.
See also
- From the 1955 book to the 2027 film: The Magician's Nephew according to Greta Gerwig: release date, cast, and what is known of the filming.
- Each adaptation has its page: 1979: the first animated Narnia, by the director of the Snoopy cartoons · Puppets and beaver costumes: the BBC series, 1988-1990 · 2005, the wardrobe opens at the cinema: the film that gave birth to this site · 2008, a Prince Caspian more warlike than the book · 2010, Walden Media's last voyage: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the cinema.
- One volcano too many: the Narnia films judged by Lewis's criteria: film by film, what was added, cut or changed.
- Characters who exist only in the films
- Narnia on the radio: Espace 2 week (December 2005): when French-speaking Swiss radio devoted a week to Lewis.
- adaptations —
- 1967 — Television — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — ABC Weekend TV (ITV) — A serial of 10 episodes, broadcast live. Almost all of it is lost.
- 1979 — Animation — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (in French: L'Armoire magique) — Bill Melendez, CBS / ITV — An animated film of 95 minutes, an Emmy Award for the best animated programme. Shown in France in the 1980s.
- 1988-1990 — Television — The Chronicles of Narnia — BBC — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988), Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989), The Silver Chair (1990). Warwick Davis plays Reepicheep; Tom Baker plays Puddleglum.
- 1988-1997 — Radio — The Chronicles of Narnia — BBC Radio 4 — The seven books as radio serials.
- 1998-2003 — Radio — The Chronicles of Narnia — Focus on the Family Radio Theatre — A large-scale audio production, with Paul Scofield (narrator) and David Suchet (Aslan).
- 1998 — Theatre — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Royal Shakespeare Company — Adrian Mitchell's adaptation. There are many other stage versions, including musicals.
- 2005 — Cinema — The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Andrew Adamson, Walden Media / Disney — About 745 million dollars at the box office. An Oscar for best make-up.
- 2008 — Cinema — The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian — Andrew Adamson, Walden Media / Disney — About 420 million dollars. Ben Barnes plays Caspian.
- 2010 — Cinema — The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader — Michael Apted, Walden Media / 20th Century Fox — About 415 million dollars. Will Poulter plays Eustace.
- 2017-2019 — Theatre — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Sally Cookson, Leeds then the Bridge Theatre (London), on tour — A very physical production, with puppets and music.
- 2027 — Cinema / Netflix — Narnia: The Magician's Nephew — Greta Gerwig, Netflix — In cinemas on 12 February 2027 (IMAX previews from 10 February) in the countries where the film is released in cinemas, then on Netflix worldwide on 2 April 2027. In France, no cinema release has been announced: the film is expected only on Netflix, on 2 April 2027. With Meryl Streep (the voice of Aslan), Emma Mackey (Jadis), Daniel Craig (Uncle Andrew), Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds; David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell play Digory and Polly.
See also
- Characters who exist only in the films
- The Magician's Nephew
- Aslan
- From the 1955 book to the 2027 film: The Magician's Nephew according to Greta Gerwig
- One volcano too many: the Narnia films judged by Lewis's criteria
- Narnia on the radio: Espace 2 week (December 2005)
- 1979: the first animated Narnia, by the director of the Snoopy cartoons
- Puppets and beaver costumes: the BBC series, 1988-1990
- 2005, the wardrobe opens at the cinema: the film that gave birth to this site
- 2008, a Prince Caspian more warlike than the book
- 2010, Walden Media's last voyage: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the cinema