The casting of the White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia continues an expected trend, but with a twist. The beloved Narnia books written by C.S. Lewis are being adapted into Netflix movies, with the first one slated to release in theaters on November 26, 2026 for a limited window before coming to the streaming platform on December 25. Set to be shown on more than 1,000 IMAX screens, it will be Netflix’s first wide theatrical release.
Netflix has not announced any of the casting choices for Greta Gerwig’s first Narnia movie. However, Meryl Streep is reportedly being eyed for the role of Aslan, while Daniel Craig has been considered for a different role. Previous reports indicated that singer-songwriter Charli XCX was among the top choices to play the villainous White Witch, who was portrayed by Tilda Swinton in Disney’s 2005 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It now seems that a different actor will play the role of the iconic antagonist.
The Narnia Remake’s White Witch Casting Continues An Expected Greta Gerwig Trend
She Continues To Work With Actors From Past Projects
Barbie star Emma Mackey has been cast as the White Witch in Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia movie. As the director and writer of Barbie, Gerwig worked with Mackey on the movie that became a mᴀssive box office hit and popular culture phenomenon. Mackey and Gerwig working together again continues the trend of the filmmaker reuniting with actors she has worked with before. Other prominent examples include Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet starring in Gerwig’s 2017 movie Lady Bird and her 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women.
Emma Mackey played Phyicist Barbie in the 2023 movie.
Prior to Mackey’s casting being reported, Gerwig was already continuing this trend with Narnia‘s casting of Meryl Streep. Gerwig and Streep first worked together in Little Women, where the Academy Award-winning actor played Aunt March. Streep voicing Aslan was an unexpected casting choice, but it is less surprising when taking her history with Gerwig into account, as she has a track record of teaming up with actors she has collaborated with before.
Greta Gerwig’s White Witch Is Being Played By A Previous Collaborator, But Not Who I Expected
A Different Barbie Actor Seemed More Likely
I am not surprised that a former Gerwig collaborator has been cast as the White Witch, but I am surprised that it ended up being Mackey. It seemed more likely to me that a character as important as the White Witch would be played by a collaborator like Margot Robbie or someone with a similar level of star power. This would be consistent with the other reported casting choices, as Streep and Craig continue to be two of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and it would make sense for the White Witch to be played by another A-list actor.
Even though I did not expect Mackey to be cast as the White Witch, she may be a better choice for the villain. Too much star power can sometimes bring with it too much expectation, with audiences already having a fixed idea of how an actor will play a certain character. With Mackey, there is less of a fixed expectation, and this will make her portrayal of the White Witch more exciting and unpredictable. Mackey has the opportunity to make the role her own and to have it feel distinct from Swinton’s performance in the 2005 movie.
What Other Greta Gerwig Collaborators We Want To See In Netflix’s Narnia Movies
Saoirse Ronan And Timothée Chalamet Are The Natural Choices
Ronan and Chalamet are the first Gerwig collaborators that come to mind when exploring who else could join Mackey and Streep in Netflix’s Narnia movies. Chalamet would be an excellent choice to play Mr. Tumnus, the faun who Lucy Pevensie meets after walking through the wardrobe and into Narnia for the first time. Drawing on his experience from starring in Paul King’s Wonka, Chalamet has demonstrated that he has the necessary whim to play a character like Mr. Tumnus.
An actor of Ronan’s caliber has the potential to make Mrs. Pevensie a more fleshed-out character.
Ronan would have been a good choice to play the White Witch. Since this role is going to Mackey instead, Ronan’s Chronicles of Narnia character could instead be Mrs. Pevensie. This would be a much smaller part than her leading roles in Lady Bird and Little Women, but an actor of Ronan’s caliber has the potential to make Mrs. Pevensie a more fleshed-out character. There are even parallels between Mrs. Pevensie and Ronan’s recent and the Apple TV+ movie Blitz. Regardless of their roles, it would be most welcome to see Ronan and Chalamet in Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia movies.
The Chronicles of Narnia
- Created by
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C.S. Lewis
- First Film
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Latest Film
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- First TV Show
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The Chronicles of Narnia
- First Episode Air Date
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November 13, 1988
Summary
The Chronicles of Narnia is 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.
