The distribution method of Greta Gerwig’sThe Chronicles of Narniaremake movies is currently up in the air, but this could have been avoided if the project had taken an entirely different route. The news that theBarbiedirector would be tackling C.S. Lewis' belovedNarniabooks was certainly exciting, especially since the movie franchise of the 2000s was never completed. The upcoming Netflix movies could be a chance to see the full story finally brought to the screen. However,there is currently some debate regarding how these movies will be released.
Gerwig’sNarniamovie is being distributed by Netflix.
Sources recently revealed that Gerwig may have successfully advocated for herNarniamovies to get a theatrical release. This would be great news for the project, but Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has notably been resistant to theatrical runs that delay a streaming release. It’s a lot of drama and debate, and it may be some time before there is definitive confirmation regarding how Gerwig’sNarniamovies will be distributed. However,all of this could have been avoided if theupcomingChronicles of Narniaadaptation had utilized a format that is becoming all the more popular for fantasy IP.
Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Remake Would Have Been Better As A TV Show
TV Shows Are Much Better Equipped For Long Book-To-Screen Adaptations
TV has become the perfect outlet for massive fantasy franchises, especially those based on book series. This really started withGame of Thronesand has since expanded into other exciting projects. Prime Video has theLord of the RingsTV series,Rings of Power, while Warner Bros and HBO now have aHarry PotterTV show in the works. The primary benefit to this long format is that these series have more opportunities to bring all the nuance of the books to the screen. Movies are almost never book-faithful adaptations, butTV shows have a great deal more freedom.
It’s for this reason thatGerwig’s newNarniaadaptation’s status as another movie series is a surprise.Their stories have already been made into movies, but things didn’t work out for the long term. The actors outgrew their roles before the series could be completed, and interest waned after years of delays. Of course, there is clearly potential to start the process over again, butit seems logical that Netlfix and Gerwig would have attempted a different format than had been done before. What’s more, aNarniaNetflix TV show would have avoided all the existing distribution drama.
A Theatrical Release For Narnia Is An Improvement (But There Are So Many Problems)
A Narnia TV Show Would Skip Over All These Release Problems
Atheatrical release for Gerwig’sNarniamovieswould definitely be preferred. The fact that Netflix is even considering this is rather exciting since the streaming platform has been relatively persistent in its distribution preferences. Such a nostalgic franchise returning to the screen would certainly inspire audiences to head to theaters, however, so it’s fair that a theatrical run would be considered forNarnia. Still, it’sunlikely that the first movie would remain exclusively in theaters for long. A simultaneous streaming release is almost guaranteed, and this hasn’t typically boded well for box offices.
Gerwig makingNarniamovies rather than a TV show would have been fine if the projects were given a long theatrical run with all the fanfare that typically goes with it.
Gerwig makingNarniamovies rather than a TV show would have been fine if the projects were given a long theatrical run with all the fanfare that typically goes with it. However,an almost immediate release on streaming takes the wind out of the project’s sales. The payoff is quick and disproportionate to the anticipation. If Netflix dropping a handful of episodes, on the other hand, it would be a different story since it draws out the amount of time audiences are actively watching and discussing. This provides audiences with an extended period of time to enjoy the story, episode by episode, from the comfort of their homes.
Is It Too Late For Netflix To Change Gears With The Narnia Reboot’s Format?
It’s Still In The Early Stages Of Development
Gerwig’sNarniamovies are still in the earliest stages of development, which is why the distribution method is still being hashed out at Netflix. However, a full format change seems unlikely at this point. The project has been confirmed as a movie series, withGerwig signed on to direct at least 2. Still,recent years have proven that anything is possibleand that moviemakers are all the more willing to provide audiences with what they want. After all, if Netflix can change gears and greenlight a theatrical run, perhaps there’s enough wiggle room for the streaming service to change its mind in other ways as well.
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narniais a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an upcoming reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
