Is Netflix Making 8 Narnia Movies?

Door Jam: February 24, 2025

The Door Jam is a place to squeeze in articles about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their work, adaptations of their fantasy worlds, news from other franchises, and interesting articles. Unless otherwise stated, I’m not endorsing (or criticizing) any of these but merely sharing them with you.

This week’s top story is the Imax CEO sharing what he believes are Netflix’s plans for The Chronicles of Narnia franchise.

Speaking to investors, Imax chief executive Rich Gelfond explained how the partnership between his theaters, Netflix and Greta Gerwig came together.

According to a Deadline report, Gelfond also expanded into future possibilities:

“I think, if it works, it will be tempting for the talent, for Imax and certainly for Netflix” to re-engage.

Not all movies are meant to be an Imax event, but Gelfond thinks Narnia definitely is.

“This was a really great movie [for us] because I think there are like eight movies planned … and what Imax does best is launch franchises and launch events, [and] this is the kind of movie that is very conducive to an Imax release.

Eight movies? Has Gerwig and Netflix already planned out the entire series with a Harry Potter-like move of splitting the last of seven books into two movies?

In my mind, the most likely explanation is that Gelfond believes Netflix plans on completing The Chronicles of Narnia, but he’s confused about the number of books.

In a January interview on FOX Business, he mentioned there being eight books in the series and Netflix wanting to do the entire series, but he wasn’t too familiar with the plans beyond the first movie that will premiere in Imax theaters.

I don’t think we can take away from this investors’ report that Netflix will make eight Narnia movies. Gelfond mistakenly believes there are eight books. But there are two important things we can draw from this.

First, Netflix seemingly wants to do the entire series. Gelfond may not know how many Narnia books exist, but he’s clearly heard enough to know that Netflix is starting with the desire to adapt all the books.

Second, Gerwig’s connection to the movies is a huge benefit to the excitement surrounding the franchise. We don’t know yet if Gerwig’s adaptations will faithfully preserve what makes Lewis’ books so magical. But we do know that Narnia has gained significant attention because of Gerwig.

There may be positives and negatives to having an Oscar-winning writer and director like her attached to the project. But there will undoubtedly be more people reading the books and perhaps other works from Lewis. Having a relatively unknown director working on a Narnia movie for a Christian-specific streaming service would not generate this type of cultural buzz.

Again, that may end up being an overall negative for Narnia, but we can hope the additional attention will drive more people through the wardrobe and deeper into Lewis’ writing and thinking.

Not Safe But Good

C.S. Lewis quote of the week

“To forgive for the moment is not difficult. But to go on forgiving, to forgive the same offense again every time it recurs to the memory—there’s the real tussle.”

Letters to Malcolm

Tumnus’ bookshelf

A book by or about C.S. Lewis

The Great Divorce is a fascinating look at the afterlife, giving us fictional encounters with those destined for heaven and hell.

Beyond the Lamp Post

Articles written by me published elsewhere

• Protestant Pastors Bring Attention to Global Christian Persecution — Lifeway Research

• 5 Telling Shifts in U.S. Religious Life Since 2020 — Lifeway Research

Behind the Wardrobe

Sneak peek at the bonus articles for paid subscribers

Below, paid subscribers will see another benefit of Gerwig’s Narnia involvement—major Hollywood stars begging to be a part of the project, a New York Times columnist as a modern-day C.S. Lewis, cultural warnings from Lewis’ lesser-known fiction, a BBC radio adaptation of a Lewis novel, how Tolkien helps us navigate chaos, a link between fictional worlds of Lewis and Tolkien, Helms Deep in Lego, as well as other news about The Chosen, Dune 3, and the MCU.