Ever since it was announced that Greta Gerwig would be writing and directing the first installments of the new Chronicles of Narnia, we have been curious to see which actors she has previously worked with might take on the roles of iconic fantasy characters. Along with the increasing reports that Gerwig will be starting out with the Narnia prequel The Magician’s Nephew, we are starting to hear about returning collaborators. Barbie‘s Emma Mackey is confirmed to be playing the White Witch, while Meryl Streep, who appears as Aunt March in Gerwig’s Little Women, is rumored to be Aslan.

The Oscar-nominated writer and director has a veritable network of A-listers she could offer roles in Narnia to, and they may be eager to be a part of this new take on a beloved fantasy classic. Gerwig’s Narnia reboot will also benefit from fresh talent, as her biggest hits have generally brought on actors she hadn’t worked with before. However, the biggest fans of Barbie and Lady Bird will still be hoping for some of their Gerwig-Narnia fancasts to come true, which could transform the new movies.

6

Emma Watson

Previously: Little Women

Emma Watson is in a category of Gerwig collaborators who, 15 years or so ago, would have been among the frontrunners to play one of the older children traveling to Narnia. Now, fans of Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Watson would still love to see them in Narnia but are unsure who they would play. Like her Little Women co-stars, Watson could see an opportunity to flex her villainous acting muscles if Gerwig gets as far as The Silver Chair and needs to cast the Lady of the Green Kirtle.

Watson doubtlessly stands out as a stellar choice for Narnia because of her iconic status in the fantasy genre. She could still play characters such as Digory or the Pevensies’ mother in one of the earlier movies, bringing her own brand of warmth and magic to it in a smaller role.

5

Bob Odenkirk

Previously: Little Women

Many would forget that Gerwig worked with the iconic Bob Odenkirk when his small role, much different from the nefarious Saul Goodman, as Father March in Little Women is easy to miss. Odenkirk can put a lot of personality behind any side character, making him ideal to voice an animal character or make a one-off appearance as one of the rulers the Narnians might be allied with. I particularly like him as Frank, the average cabbie who unwittingly becomes the first king of Narnia.

4

Laura Dern

Previously: Little Women

Depending on what age range Gerwig is looking for to play the main child characters’ parents, Laura Dern could also be a contender. For The Magician’s Nephew, most likely Gerwig’s first movie, she could also be Queen Helen, Frank’s wife (meaning she and Odenkirk would be portraying a married couple again). If Gerwig is committed to a gender-swapped Aslan and talks with Meryl Streep fall through, Dern might be next up. This might even be a challenge for the Oscar winner, but in general, her range and wisdom on-screen would be valuable to Narnia in various capacities.

3

Simu Liu

Previously: Barbie

As proven by Barbie, Simu Liu is also capable of being very charismatic and memorable in a small role, which is vital to Narnia when many one-off characters are very easy to forget. While I would love to see him voice Fledge, the witty cab-horse-turned-Pegasus of The Magician’s Nephew, Liu might also be great as Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He could also be a possibility for King Frank, or numerous other side roles we don’t even realize he would transform.

2

Lois Smith

Previously: Lady Bird

At 94 years old, Lois Smith has an upcoming credit in On the End; she also appears alongside Timothée Chalamet and Tilda Swinton in 2021’s The French Dispatch. Much like her Lady Bird role, Smith could be fascinating as a briefly seen character who shows up to be a voice of wisdom to the children (perhaps taken more seriously than she is in Lady Bird).

If Gerwig also wanted to mix things up, she could have an elderly Polly as the mysterious wealthy homeowner hosting the Pevensies rather than Digory, and incorporate him into the story elsewhere. This is how Smith could really stun us as the enigmatic woman who doesn’t say upfront that she has actually been to Narnia, but is aware of what Lucy has likely found.

1

Timothée Chalamet

Previously: Lady Bird, Little Women

Timothée Chalamet is one of the most talked-about fancasts for The Chronicles of Narnia, and I would be remiss not to mention him. Generally, people are saying Chalamet should play Mr. Tumnus in Gerwig’s Narnia when he has the exact charm and ability to portray internal dilemmas for it. Chalamet could still possibly play a different character in the future, testing himself as a voice actor as one of the many delightful animal characters or another mentor to the children. He, and several other previous Gerwig collaborators, should get a chance to improve the new series at some point.

The Chronicles of Narnia

Created by

C.S. Lewis

First Film

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Latest Film

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

First TV Show

The Chronicles of Narnia

First Episode Air Date

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.

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