After several high-profile disagreements and failed deals, Netflix may be about to break with past strategies and give Greta Gerwig The Chronicles of Narnia film adaptation a more substantial theatrical release. After acquiring full rights to C.S. Lewis’ fantasy novel series in an unprecedented deal in 2018, Gerwig has officially signed on to write and direct at least two films on streamer Chronicles of Narnia series. Although Coco’s Matthew Aldrich was hired to help write the outline for the series, it’s currently unknown which novel Gerwig will adapt first.
With Netflix unable to secure the rights to Emerald Fennell and Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights adaptation after Warner Bros. acquired the production, Variety reports that the situation may have led to another highly anticipated project to reorganize its distribution strategy. Sources suggest that Greta’s current status in Hollywood and the Wuthering Heights loss gave the filmmaker leverage to request a redistribution of change, opening his Chronicles of Narnia adaptation to receive a global release on 1,800 IMAX screens.
While this may line up with previous reports, it’s currently unclear how long this theatrical window will last and how long audiences will have to wait to see the film on the service. In recent comments, Netflix CEO Ted Saranados remained firm in stating that he didn’t want to wait any longer for the film to arrive on the serviceciting concerns about public preferences.
What a Theatrical Exhibition Strategy Could Mean for Netflix’s Future
Gerwig Chronicles of Narnia Could be a guaranteed theatrical hit
Although Netflix’s potential theatrical release The Chronicles of Narnia may be unprecedented, it is not a discussion that came out of nowhere. Although it received a limited one-week theatrical run, Glass onion: a mystery with knivesof The brief release reportedly left director Rian Johnson and lead Daniel Craig unhappy. The actor reportedly had a frank discussion with Sarandos after the premiere, where he regretted the theater’s limited decision.
With Gerwig’s escape Barbie blockbuster in 2023, the director has proven that she is a filmmaker who can attract a crowd so that the theatrical exhibition of his films could guarantee a profit. Additionally, Johnson, Craig and other filmmakers still pushing for the streamer to adopt more traditional distribution methods within their strategies could use their potential success to push the service to take more risks.
Our thoughts on the potential theatrical release of Netflix’s The Chronicles of Narnia
Rewards can be incredibly lucrative for the streamer
While it’s clear that Sarandos’ reluctance could still be a hindrance to the future of Gerwig’s company The Chronicles of Narnia film, it’s hard to deny that the potential outcome could be overall positive. Along with Gerwig’s proven success, a Big-budget family fantasy film could offer ideal scale for an IMAX release this could appeal to many demographics, ensuring it would be a perfect testing ground to see how the streamer could handle more standard theatrical showings.
Thus, adopting a theatrical model to The Chronicles of Narniaeven if it is still outside the standard of other studios, it could usher in a new era for the streamer.
Furthermore, this deal could not only satiate the desires of Gerwig, Johnson, and other filmmakers with contracts at Netflix, but it could also open up the service to other skeptical filmmakers, aligning itself with the streamer and increasing validity among awards bodies after debates questions about whether the company’s resources qualify for nominations in competitions. Thus, adopting a theatrical model to The Chronicles of Narniaeven if it is still outside the standard of other studios, it could usher in a new era for the streamer.
Source: Variety