Casting Netflix's upcoming take on The Chronicles of Narnia will be a tall order, as many longtime fans and critics have strong opinions about who should portray the beloved characters. One actress who was frequently discussed in fan-casting conversations was Saoirse Ronan, who has worked with the director Greta Gerwig many times before. Though Ronan has denied rumors of her being cast in Narnia in the past, there's always potential that this could change (via Deadline). However, it's certain that Ronan could not portray Susan Pevensie, the role she's been fan-cast as.
Greta Gerwig's Narnia remake must bring justice to Susan, one of the most underdeveloped of the Pevensie children. Ronan is often mentioned within the Susan casting discussion because her fair features and longtime partnership with Gerwig make her an obvious choice. However, Ronan has aged out of this role, and it's well-known that adults aren't welcome in Narnia. Despite this, all hope is not lost for Gerwig's participation in the franchise, as the Pevensies are far from the only characters in all of C.S. Lewis's classic novel series, especially if Netflix adapts all the books.
Saoirse Ronan Can Appear In Netflix's Narnia Movies Without Playing Susan Pevensie
There are adult characters featured in every novel that she could bring to life
The options for roles available for Ronan to play in the new Narnia movies are numerous. Ranging from smaller, cameo-like roles to full-blown iconic members of the franchise. Of course, there are plenty of roles within the voice cast that Ronan could step into, as the animals in Narnia are an immersive part of the world. However, seeing Ronan's face and witnessing her as part of the fantastical world would be the most fun. In terms of adult women, Ronan could play the Pevensies' mother, though this would be a brief role in the beginning.
Jadis the White Witch was played by Tilda Swinton, and trying to fill these shoes would be difficult, but Ronan would be more than up to the challenge.
Later on in the series, Ronan could even portray Mrs. Lefay, a character in The Magician's Nephew. Although, this would require the movie to delve into the backstory of the mysterious character. A fun role for Ronan and the audience would be the White Witch. Jadis the White Witch was played by Tilda Swinton, and trying to fill these shoes would be difficult, but Ronan would be more than up to the challenge. However, one of the best and most overlooked villains in the Narnia franchise is the Lady of the Green Kirtle, who appears in The Silver Chair.
Book
Year of Release
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
1950
Prince Caspian
1951
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
1952
The Silver Chair
1953
The Horse and His Boy
1954
The Magician's Nephew
1955
The Last Battle
1956
The Lady Of The Green Kirtle Would Be The Perfect Role For The Actor
A later addition to the series, The Lady of the Green Kirtle makes sense for Ronan
It's been discussed that Saoirse Ronan wants to play a villain, and The Lady of the Green Kirtle is the kind of role that Ronan could easily make her own. The primary antagonist of The Silver Chair, The Lady of the Green Kirtle, is a mysterious force of evil who captures and torments the prince the protagonists are searching for in the story. Throughout her career, Ronan has played imperfect characters, but rarely has she been seen as an outright antagonist. This would be an interesting change for the actress and for the audiences watching the new Narnia movies.
Though the heroes capture the audience's hearts in the Narnia universe, Greta Gerwig's new movies can focus on an underrated antagonist.
Since the amount of viewers who are familiar with The Silver Chair and The Lady of the Green Kirtle is fewer than those who know the story of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this presents an exciting opportunity. Outside of The Lady's desire to spread chaos and use magic, little is known about her and her motivations, and Ronan is a skilled enough actor to take an underdeveloped role and create a brilliant character with nuance and intrigue. Though Gerwig might not be directing The Silver Chair adaptation, this doesn't mean Ronan shouldn't be part of it.
Placing Saoirse Ronan In A Smaller Narnia Role Would Perfectly Honor Her Fancasting
Though fan-casts don't have to influence movies, it's fun to pay tribute to them
Most of the voices calling for Ronan to be cast as Susan are well aware that the actress can't be cast in the role and are reminiscing about her performances as a child actor. Fan casting has grown more common in recent years, and when it comes to adaptations of famous books, many longtime readers want to see the right actors cast within the beloved roles. Of course, no producer or casting director has to listen to the fan casts from the internet, but using them as Easter eggs can be fun for the audience and filmmakers alike.
Greta Gerwig is set to reboot The Chronicles of Narnia stories in a TV series made for Netflix, but she could start the story very differently.
Putting Ronan and other fan-cast actors in smaller roles ensures that the filmmakers' vision of Narnia is maintained while acknowledging the fans. Though The Lady of the Green Kirtle is the main antagonist of one of the books, she isn't a recurring character on whom the story hinges, making her a slightly smaller character. The Lady of the Green Kirtle only appears in The Silver Chair, and this could provide an opportunity for Gerwig's Narnia reboot to give the witches a backstory that they need, with Ronan part of this expansive world-building.
Saoirse Ronan Can Only Play Lady Of Green The Kirtle If Greta Gerwig Adapts All The Narnia Books
There's enormous pressure on Gerwig and Netflix to bring every book to life
Rumors have been flying about whether Gerwig's Narnia will start with a prequel and adapt The Magician's Nephew first. However, it's clear that if this is the plan, then Netflix needs to green-light the entire series ahead of the initial film's premiere. The Silver Chair is the fourth book in order of publication in the Narnia series, so it would take a long time for the movies to catch up to this point if they were released chronologically. While Ronan being part of the franchise isn't the most important piece of the series, she would be a fun addition.
Gerwig is only confirmed to be directing the first two Chronicles of Narnia movies.
Only two movies have been confirmed so far, with Gerwig set to helm them both, meaning plans for bringing The Silver Chair to life likely haven't entered the conversation. There are ways that Ronan could play The Lady of the Green Kirtle and still appear in Gerwig's movies if she's shown in The Chronicles of Narnia early when the witches' background is fleshed out. It may come to pass that Ronan never joins the cast of the films, but imagining how she could fit shows how much potential the movies have.
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.
Image by Simone Ashmoore
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