Netflix’s NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW Lands 2027 Release With Full 45+ Day Theatrical Push
Netflix is making a pretty major move with its upcoming Narnia movie, and it’s the kind of decision that movie fans have been hoping to see from streamers for a while.
Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is now officially set to hit theaters on February 12, 2027, and it isn’t just a limited run. This one is getting a full wide 45+ day theatrical window before it eventually lands on Netflix.
The film was originally targeting a Thanksgiving release this year, but production hit a snag when a cast member was injured, pushing things back by about six weeks. That delay made the original IMAX window unrealistic, so the studio shifted gears and locked in a new date. Turns out, that pivot opened the door for something bigger.
Instead of rushing it out, Netflix leaned into Gerwig’s vision and committed to giving the movie a proper theatrical rollout. IMAX sneak previews will kick off on February 10, followed by a global release on February 12. After that, the film will make its way to Netflix on April 2. That’s a solid exclusive window for theaters, and yeah, it’s nice to see.
This marks a rare but growing trend for Netflix. While the streamer has dabbled in theatrical releases before, including last year’s KPop Demon Hunters Singalong, this is only its second true wide release push. That previous title even managed to pull in a $19 million opening weekend domestically, proving there’s real potential here.
The decision to go wide with Narnia wasn’t something that came together at the last minute either. According to sources, this was always a backup plan if the initial release timing didn’t work out. Gerwig had been pushing for a theatrical experience from the start, and now she’s getting it.
The film will face some competition when it arrives, going up against Sony’s Nightingale, a period drama starring Elle and Dakota Fanning, as well as an untitled K-pop project from Paramount directed by Benson Lee. Still, with the Narnia name and Gerwig’s creative vision, it’s definitely going to be one to watch.
Based on the 1955 novel by C. S. Lewis, the film serves as a prequel to the classic fantasy series. It explores the origins of Narnia itself, bringing to life the story of how the magical world first came into existence.
The cast includes newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, alongside Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, with Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep also in the mix.
Gerwig shared her excitement about finally bringing the film to audiences: “Working with Netflix to bring this film to life has been extraordinary, and Imax continues to be an incredible partner. I cannot wait for people to see the film in theaters on February 12 and on Netflix on April 2,”
She also opened up about her personal connection to the story, saying: “I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life.
“I didn’t know that I would grow up to make films, but a universe built out of music is an idea that always lived in my heart. It is the honor of a lifetime to be asked to imagine it into being. Because of C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, I believed in magic and hidden worlds and adventure.
“I believed that anywhere could be enchanted and that anyone could be swept up into an epic. That wonder and awe was available to everyone, even ordinary people like me. … It transformed me.”
IMAX is also fully on board with the expanded release: “From the outset, we got involved with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew to support Greta Gerwig and see her vision realized to the fullest in Imax.
“The film’s delay until 2027 creates an opportunity to give Narnia an expanded, wide release with a full theatrical window; we support Greta and Netflix in pursuing that opportunity and are pleased Imax could help facilitate.
“We hope as many people in as many places as possible can experience what Greta is creating with this special film — particularly in its exclusive debut in Imax, as it was meant to be seen,”
And the folks at the The C. S. Lewis Company are just as enthusiastic: “It’s incredibly moving to see how deeply Greta Gerwig has embraced C. S. Lewis’s world and infused Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew with joy, heart and genuine love for the story. We’re so excited for audiences everywhere to experience her vision — and to share the magic of Narnia with a whole new generation.”
The film is produced by Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal, Vincent Sieber-Smith, and Gerwig.
It’s still a bit of a wait until 2027, but this kind of theatrical commitment makes it feel worth it. A Narnia story built for the big screen, with IMAX in play and a filmmaker who genuinely loves the material, sounds like it’ll be a win.