Greta Gerwig 'The Magician's Nephew' trailer unveils first look at Narnia

Greta Gerwig has unveiled the first trailer for 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew', offering audiences a glimpse into the magical world of C.S. Lewis' beloved fantasy series. The film features Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey and Meryl Streep, who voices the mythical lion Aslan.

Set to Led Zeppelin's iconic 'Stairway to Heaven', the trailer introduces Digory and Polly, two children who discover the Wood between the Worlds, a mysterious place that connects different realms. Their journey takes them into fantastical lands filled with mythical creatures, including Fledge, a talking horse capable of flight, and Jadis, played by Mackey, who will eventually become the White Witch.

The footage also offers a first look at Aslan, whose appearance signals the beginning of Narnia itself.

Speaking at a preview event in New York, Gerwig discussed her longstanding affection for Lewis' books and her decision to begin the film series with 'The Magician's Nephew'. Although the novel was published in 1955, five years after 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', it serves as a prequel to the wider story.

'I don't remember a time I didn't know the books,' Gerwig said, adding that the series had played a significant role in shaping her as a filmmaker.

Gerwig approached Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos with the idea of adapting the novel after the streaming platform acquired the rights to the franchise. At the time, she had directed 'Lady Bird' and 'Little Women', but had yet to achieve the global success of 2023's 'Barbie'.

The director also revealed that casting the two young leads, David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, involved reviewing thousands of auditions over several months.

Securing 'Stairway to Heaven' was another significant achievement, with Gerwig writing to Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page to persuade them to license the song.

'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew' marks Gerwig's first feature film since 'Barbie' and Netflix's first film to receive a global theatrical release. The film will arrive in cinemas on 12 February 2027 before streaming on Netflix from 2 April.

'I hope they feel like they've been on an adventure,' Gerwig said of her expectations for audiences.