Netflix’s adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia should start with this book

The live-action future of The Chronicles of Narnia has been in flux for a while. Although Netflix first announced that they had acquired the rights to the fantasy novel series from CS Lewis in 2018, a serious lack of development had us wondering if it would ever happen. After all, the previous Narnia franchise ended prematurely after a lackluster third installment, and it’s clear that Lewis’ beloved novels aren’t the easiest to adapt to the screen. However, with the news that the director Greta Gerwig it is poisoning not one but twoNarnia movies (with production imminent), fans are both nervous and excited at the prospect of more. But which Narnian tale should Netflix start with? Well, we think sometimes the best place to start is the beginning, and that means The Wizard’s Nephew.

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

During World War II bombings in London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After returning, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil white witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).

Publication date

December 9, 2005

Execution time

143 minutes

writer

Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Tagline

Evil has reigned for 100 years…

studio(s)

Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media, Mark Johnson Productions

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The Chronicles of Narnia does not begin chronologically with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

When The Chronicles of Narnia first published in 1950, it started with the familiar (and also the most beloved) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This novel reinvented fantasy adventure as the four Pevensie children were introduced to the magical world of Narnia through an ordinary household item. To say there’s a lot to love The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe would be an understatement. Not only did CS Lewis breathe new life into the fantasy genre, but he used something as childish as fairy tales to convey even deeper spiritual truths about our world. But even though The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first and most popular book in ofChronicles of Narnia The series, chronologically speaking, is not the first.

In 1956, Lewis published The Wizard’s Nephew, a prequel to his original tale that chronicled the origins of the White Witch, the clothing, the kindly Professor Digory Kirk, and, of course, all of Narnia. This penultimate chapter in Lewis’ series is set thousands of years ago in Narnian times. Apparently, the story really began long before Lucy first stepped into that enchanted wardrobe. Addressing the fundamental Christian themes of original sin, temptation, redemption and natural law, as well as firmly establishing Narnia as existing in a larger multiverse (long before that term was popular), The Wizard’s Nephew it’s a triumph that proves prequels can be just as good as their predecessors. For this reason, Greta Gerwig should start Netflix’s Narnia franchise with this story.

Connected

The Chronicles of Narnia novels by CS Lewis

“Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia.”

Of course, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is generally the most popular of all of Lewis’s novels, but it’s precisely because of its popularity that Netflix needs to try something different. Not different in terms of drastically changing the source material (Rings of Power has proven the dangers in this), but different in how the adaptations are structured. When it comes to The Chronicles of Narnia, many are already familiar with the story of Lucy, Edmund and Aslan. We know how the Great Lion defeats the White Witch. What many casual viewers don’t know is how Narnia started in the first place, and as a white witch for the first time went there. Perhaps starting there would generate a greater impact when The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe it is inevitably adapted again.

“The Wizard’s Nephew” would set Greta Gerwig’s Narnia franchise apart

One of the biggest arguments for why any Narnia adaptation worth its salt has to begin with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe because that’s how CS Lewis originally wrote it. There is certainly a strong case to be made Leo for as Lucy enters the magical land of Narnia for the first time, so does the audience. Through her, we experience the same fascination and wonder for the first time, and Narnia becomes as new and exciting to us as Lucy. This is something from 2005 Andrew Adamson the adaptation did well, and Netflix would do well to emulate it. But The Wizard’s Nephew it has the same potential for re-enchantment if we allow it.

For example, the moment Digory and Polly appear in Wood Between the Worlds (the multiverse gateway that would inspire Star WarsThe World Between Worlds itself) reveals that Narnia is not the only parallel universe that can be visited. In fact, before the pair set foot in Narnia, they first find themselves on Charn, where they unwittingly awaken Jadis – the giant empress who would become the White Witch. When they finally reach Narnia, they do so just as Aslan is singing his world into existence, which is even more fascinating than Lucy’s initial arrival in the winter wonderland. Because the audience has already seen it The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Wizard’s Nephew it would be a breath of fresh air for returning fans as well as new onesshowing what the world of Narnia is capable of.

There is also the matter of the characters themselves. Digory and Polly are both fascinating individuals, and while Digory we later come to know as the eccentric and somewhat elusive Professor Kirke, as a boy he is an even more curious and complicated character. Not only does he have to deal with his “crazy” uncle Andrew (a scientist who becomes more of a wizard), but his mother is slowly dying, giving him a need far greater than his own. Polly, too, is a fun character, balancing Digory’s inquisitive attitude with her practical, no-nonsense charm. Both are of the adventurous type, and each has their own important lessons to learn from their time wandering between worldsas well as their eventual meeting with Aslan.

“The Wizard’s Nephew” would make Netflix’s Narnia franchise more complete

At first with The Wizard’s Nephew, Greta Gerwig, and Netflix have the potential to expand their audience even further. While longtime fans of CS Lewis’ original The Chronicles of Narnia books should always be at the forefront of their minds (we are a loyal and integrated fan base, after all), it doesn’t hurt to want to expand your reach. Starting here can help. Not only does it The Wizard’s Nephew I feel like the beginning of the story, but it also sets up multiple plot lines that will eventually pay off in later installments. But there is another link that can start with it of The magician’s grandson even more important: Now.

Although the god-demon Tash does not appear in The Wizard’s Nephewhe is mentioned for the first time in the independent chronicle The horse and his son as lord of the Calormen people. IN The Last Battle, it is revealed that Tash is not just a man-made idol, but an actual demonic creature. He becomes something of the last antagonist of the Narnian world before Aslan destroys it forever. But to connect again with The Wizard’s Nephewpopular YouTube channel, In the wardrobe cleverly pointed out that images of Tash appear to appear in official illustrations of Charn in the novel. As Digory and Polly explore Jadis’s world, it seems as if, when they took her out of Charn and into Narnia, they may have let Tash in too. If this theory were woven into the Netflix adaptations, it could connect the first part of the franchise with the last, making The Chronicles of Narnia more cohesive than ever.

CS Lewis wanted The Magician’s Nephew to be read first

You will never start reading Chronicles of Narnia with Prince Caspian OR The Silver Chair (which almost became a movie). Both stories require some context from previous chapters and feature characters that cross over from other books. But you can easily start reading the series with any of them The Wizard’s Nephew OR The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, if you were so inclined. There has been a long debate among Narnia fans as to which reading order is best: publication order or chronological order. Each has its merits, of course, and when it came to the live-action film series, it made sense that the release order was chosen. But for a streamer like Netflix, one day there will be people who will enjoy the entire series (if it manages to adapt everything through The Last Battle), perhaps chronological order would be best.

In the last copies of The Wizard’s NephewHarperCollins has inserted the following disclaimer: “Although The Wizard’s Nephew it was written a few years after CS Lewis first started The Chronicles of Narnia, he wanted it to read like the first book in the series. HarperCollins is pleased to present these books in the order Professor Lewis preferred.” According to NarniaWeb, Lewis himself preferred chronological order when reading The Chronicles of Narnia, despite having originally written them out of order. That alone should be enough for Netflix to comply with the same. Whichever way the streaming giant eventually brings us to the world of Narnia (make The journey of the dawn runner a series, you cowards!), we can only hope that these adaptations are faithful to the books and capture the same spirit of CS Lewis’ original works.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is available to watch on Disney+ in the US

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