Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Gerwig’s adaptation of Lewis’ 1955 novel that explores the origins of Narnia. Set to Led Zeppelin’s 'Stairway to Heaven', the trailer moves from a sombre, wartime-era London to colourful, otherworldly landscapes, as Digory Kirke (David McKenna) and Polly Plummer (Beatrice Campbell) discover magical rings that transport them between worlds. The footage offers glimpses of Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew, Emma Mackey as Jadis, the future White Witch, and Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan.
The trailer opens with Uncle Andrew suggesting that one story can be the beginning of many others, before the children find themselves navigating the mysterious Wood Between the Worlds. Their journey takes them to a desolate realm and a crumbling palace, where they encounter Jadis. The footage culminates in a glimpse of Aslan, whose song brings Narnia into existence. The question, “Have you ever seen a world born?”, sets the tone for a story concerned as much with creation as with adventure.
The film is based on the sixth novel in Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, published five years after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Although the latter was the first book released in the series, The Magician’s Nephew serves as a prequel, following Digory and Polly as they discover the Wood Between the Worlds and witness the birth of Narnia. Lewis later expressed a preference for readers to begin with this origin story, a decision Gerwig has also cited in explaining her choice of material.
The casting brings together newcomers McKenna and Campbell with a prominent ensemble that includes Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma, alongside Craig, Mackey and Streep. The latter’s casting as Aslan had attracted debate among sections of the fan community even before the trailer’s release. The first footage offers a glimpse of the lion but leaves much of the character’s portrayal under wraps.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled to release in IMAX and theatres worldwide on February 12, 2027, with IMAX previews beginning on February 10. The film will subsequently premiere on Netflix on April 2, 2027. It is being distributed by Sony Pictures International.