The latest news for the Chronicles of Narnia reboot is that Daniel Craig may be joining the cast, allowing the James Bond actor a second chance at being a part of a successful adaptation of a classic fantasy series. Netflix’s Narnia reboot, the first installments of which are to be directed by Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig, is making steady progress with an official release date for the 2026 holiday season and other casting announcements. Enola Holmes star Louis Partridge is confirmed, while pop star Charlie XCX may be playing the infamous White Witch.

It’s not entirely confirmed which Narnia book Gerwig is adapting first, but she could be starting off with either a remake of the Pevensies’ first adventure into Narnia with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or, alternatively, the very origin story of Narnia as depicted in The Magician’s Nephew. In either case, Daniel Craig would certainly be an ᴀsset to the Narnia cast. Moreover, while his resume is hardly lacking, Narnia may be a welcome addition to his career to make up for a failed similar project 18 years ago.

2007’s The Golden Compᴀss Was Disappointing, But Daniel Craig Can Make Up For It With A Chronicles Of Narnia Role

Craig Wasn’t Given The Material He Needed To Shine As Lord Asriel

Previously, Daniel Craig starred in the movie adaptation of The Golden Compᴀss, the first book in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Craig played Lord Asriel, the ambitious explorer and revolutionary whom child protagonist Lyra believes is her uncle but is actually her father. The Golden Compᴀss features a star-studded cast, also including Nicole Kidman and Sam Elliot, who bring to life vibrant versions of their characters. However, the movie rushed through much of the world-building and theological discourses that made the source material so impactful. It also shied away from the tragic ending that would properly set up the sequel.

Additionally, Craig’s character disappears from the story early on, and with the book’s ending cut, he never really got the chance to play this figure who sets out to remake the world at all costs. Asriel would later be played to his full arc by James McAvoy in the TV show reboot His Dark Materials, doing justice to the character on screen. On the other hand, Narnia could allow Craig to do more with a famous literary character of this genre, showcasing his ability to work with a source material to understand his role’s thematic place in the story.

Who Daniel Craig Could Play In Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles Of Narnia

Craig Could Play Uncle Andrew, Professor Kirke, Or Aslan

Craig’s role in Narnia is unconfirmed, and speculation is also flexible due to the public not knowing for certain which Narnia book adaptation he is being eyed for. The most obvious characters for him are Aslan and Professor Digory Kirke. Craig is certainly a skilled dramatic actor worthy of having his sH๏τ at voicing the real King of Narnia, but some are still hoping that Liam Neeson could return to voice Aslan again. Certainly, Neeson has a deeper, wiser-sounding voice that lends an otherworldly quality to the lion which even James Bond may struggle to live up to.

On the other hand, Professor Kirke, who hosts the Pevensie children when they are sent away from London, is also an elderly, knowledgeable figure, but one with a quirkier streak that Craig could handle well, as evidenced by his performance in the Knives Out movies. However, What’s on Netflix reports that Craig is being considered as young Digory’s malevolent uncle Andrew, meaning the first movie would be The Magician’s Nephew. Craig could show off more of his range by trying his hand at a villainous character of corrupt ambition, while also hitting some notes of comedy stemming from Andrew’s incompetence and foolishness.

What The Chronicles Of Narnia Should Learn From The Golden Compᴀss

Narnia Can Make Changes, But Not At The Cost Of Its Themes

The trajectory of fantasy adaptations overall lays out a loose blueprint for the new Narnia movies. Adaptations such as The Golden Compᴀss, Eragon, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians all failed in the 2000s, to get much more successful TV show reboots in the following decades. Narnia is attempting something of a bigger challenge by sticking to movies, but can still learn from previous missteps, especially concerning its most similar contemporary of The Golden Compᴀss. Both are stories centering on children which approach the themes of children facing evil and growing up, as well as religion, very differently.

The Golden Compᴀss is certainly an object lesson in remaining faithful to the book, but not necessarily in terms of beat-for-beat plot moments. The plot will always shift somewhat to make it fit into a movie format, but the problem with The Golden Compᴀss is that these changes water down the material so the meaning of it all isn’t as sharp. Greta Gerwig and her team can learn from this as they set out to re-adapt The Chronicles of Narnia, engaging with C. S. Lewis’ writing and altering it only to further discussion of the symbolism of Narnia.

Source: What’s on Netflix

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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