Here’s 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
Pop Culture Planet attended an exclusive IMAX sneak peek of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. Hosted by Netflix, press and influencers snacked on Narnia-themed mocktails, brunch appetizers, popcorn, and candy as they prepared to see the trailer and behind-the-scenes footage hours before it was released online. Writer and director Greta Gerwig was interviewed by Stephen Colbert, giving more insight into the process behind adapting the beloved world created by C.S. Lewis.
Greta Gerwig Is A Narnia Superfan
The books were some of the first Gerwig ever read and the BBC show was the first piece of media she experienced. “I don’t remember a time I didn’t know the books,” said an emotional Gerwig. “I wouldn’t be who I am without these books.”
Years before Barbie, she spoke to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos at a cocktail party about her thoughts on a future Narnia adaptation. “About 20 minutes later, he said, ‘Do you want to write it?’ At that point, I had only made Lady Bird and Little Women. I hadn’t done Barbie yet,” she said, honored that they would trust her with the project. She was passionate about starting with the prequel story The Magician’s Nephew instead of the first book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
A Sweet Moment Solidified The Casting Of Digory and Polly
Newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead the film as Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. Both actors had a spark that Gerwig saw from their initial audition tapes and, as they moved to in-person screen tests, McKenna and Campbell always seemed to gravitate towards each other. A sweet moment between the actors sealed the deal for Gerwig. “There was a moment when Bea sniffled and David gestured off camera to get her a Kleenex. I thought, ‘Oh, these kids are already taking care of each other,’” she said, which is exactly what the film is about.
Led Zeppelin Licensed “Stairway to Heaven” For The Film
The trailer is soundtracked by Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” which has never been licensed for media before. “It’s an epic song and, narratively, about a spiritual journey. A path of fake idols and wrong roads you can go down,” Gerwig explained, sharing that she wrote a letter to the band and even showed them an early cut of the film to convince them. “I was so moved that they allowed me to use this song. They saw the heart and story of the film.”
Mark Ronson Recorded Songs On Set
Gerwig also reunited with Barbie composers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for the Narnia score. She revealed they even recorded some of the songs on a piano on set seen in one of the character’s homes.
Greta Gerwig Wore A One-Of-A-Kind Aslan Pin
Another fun detail included a silver Aslan pin Gerwig was wearing during the event. She shared that it was made from the film’s celluloid. Creating something beautiful from the unexpected is another lesson that she hopes viewers take away from the film. “I hope when they leave the theater, they want to make something. A song or a cake or a painting,” Gerwig said. “Making something is an act of hope.”
In a surprising turn from Netflix, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is getting a theatrical release starting February 12 before it lands on the streaming platform on April 2.
