Netflix is apparently spending a staggering amount of money to bring Narnia back to the big screen.
Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew reportedly carries a $280 million production budget, which would put it among the most expensive films Netflix has ever made.
That figure has been circulating heavily this week, especially on Reddit and social media, but it traces back to someone directly involved with the production. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey previously described Narnia as a “$280 million Netflix project” while discussing his work on the movie.
NarniaWeb recently highlighted McGarvey’s comments, along with several other details about the scale and visual style of the film.
Netflix has not publicly confirmed the $280 million figure, so for now it should still be treated as a reported budget rather than an official number.
This is Netflix’s first Narnia movie
Rather than starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Gerwig is beginning with The Magician’s Nephew.
Published in 1955, the book takes place before the better-known events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and tells the story of how Narnia came into existence.
It follows Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two children who get pulled into an experiment involving magical rings created by Digory’s Uncle Andrew. Their travels take them between worlds, eventually leading to the awakening of Jadis and the creation of Narnia itself.
The cast is also unusually large for a first installment.
According to Netflix’s official announcement, the movie stars:
- David McKenna
- Beatrice Campbell
- Emma Mackey
- Carey Mulligan
- Ciarán Hinds
- Daniel Craig
- Meryl Streep
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Denise Gough
- Susan Wokoma
Emma Mackey is playing Jadis, better known as the White Witch, while David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead the film as Digory and Polly.
Gerwig wrote the screenplay and is directing. She is currently attached to make at least two Narnia movies for Netflix.
Netflix is giving Narnia a real theatrical release
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will receive a wide global theatrical release on February 12, 2027, with special IMAX previews beginning February 10.
It will not arrive on Netflix until April 2, 2027.
That is very different from the short theatrical windows Netflix usually gives its original movies.
Netflix confirmed the release plan earlier this year, positioning the film as a major theatrical event rather than something designed primarily for streaming.
There are seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia, so Netflix has no shortage of material if this first film works.
The question is whether audiences are ready to embrace Narnia again on this scale.
If the $280 million figure is accurate, Netflix is certainly betting that they are.
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