First Photos Released as Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Hits Major Production Milestone

Filming has started in London for Greta Gerwig’s new Narnia movie, and fans are already excited about the cast and the fresh updates from the set. The film stars big names like Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, Emma Mackey, and Carey Mulligan.

Netflix got the rights to all of the Narnia books in 2018. This was the first time one company held the rights to the entire series by C.S. Lewis. Entertainment One also joined the project, with Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber as executive producers.

In 2019, Matthew Aldrich, known for co-writing Coco, was hired to help develop the adaptation. Then, in 2023, it was announced that Greta Gerwig would write and direct at least two Narnia movies for Netflix.

Gerwig’s film is planned to come out first in IMAX theaters on Thanksgiving Day in 2026 and then will be available on Netflix in December. Casting calls in 2025 hinted that the movie would focus on either The Magician’s Nephew or The Silver Chair. Production listings in early 2025 confirmed the title as Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

Producer Amy Pascal said filming was expected to start around July 2025, with Shepperton Studios in Surrey as a main location.

Fans have already shared many set photos online, which reveal some interesting changes. The story’s time period seems to have shifted from the original late 19th-century Victorian setting to the 1950s. One Instagram user who visited the set saw props like a flower stall dated 1955. When they asked crew members, they were only told it was a Netflix movie, with no other details given.

This time change could affect future Narnia stories, especially since The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is set during World War II in the books. If this new time setting stays, it could mean that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe might take place in the early 2000s.

So far, the only confirmed cast members are Emma Mackey as the White Witch and Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew. Carey Mulligan is in talks for a role, and many expect Meryl Streep to play Aslan. However, Netflix has not officially confirmed any casting yet. On set, Greta Gerwig has been seen with two young actors believed to be playing Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer after a long casting search.

Filming is mostly happening in the South and Southeast of England, with Shepperton Studios playing a big part. There’s no official end date yet, but filming is expected to finish by early 2026.

The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations shared pictures of posters around the filming area, advertising places like The Northfield Club and Steapleton Empire. These posters help set the 1950s vibe, showing ads for music, theater, and boxing events typical of the time.

As more updates come in, we’ll keep sharing all the news about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia and what fans can look forward to in this fresh take on the classic series.

If you have any thoughts or news, feel free to share in the comments!