Published Feb 3, 2026, 7:01 AM EST
Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.
You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."
Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.
Warning: Spoilers for the final Narnia book!
The Chronicles of Narnia is deceptively difficult to adapt. While most people are familiar with adaptations of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it's technically the second book in C.S. Lewis' seven-part book series, which contains a prequel, four sequels, and a standalone story. Very few books in the series have been adapted for the screen.
Greta Gerwig's Narnia movies will take on a different story, as she is not beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It appears that she will explore a different era in Narnia, and the casting choices are already polarizing fans. Gerwig is making significant changes to the Narnia stories, but this could be exciting, especially if she reaches the tale's never-filmed conclusion.
Greta Gerwig Is Adapting Two Chronicles Of Narnia Books
In 2024, Jason Isaacs confirmed that Gerwig is adapting a Narnia prequel, specifically The Magician's Nephew. This is the first book in the Narnia timeline and follows Digory, later known as Professor Kirke in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and introduces Jadis, who becomes the iconic White Witch.
Gerwig has signed on to make at least two Narnia movies and could potentially adapt the entire series. While the title of the second movie has not yet been confirmed, she could use viewers' familiarity with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to market her interpretation of the story. On the other hand, she could take a risk and adapt a later book.
The Final Battle Has Never Been Adapted For The Screen
The Chronicles of Narnia movies often fail for several reasons. The series does not lend itself to adaptation, as the timeline jumps centuries into Narnia's future with each book, with only Aslan and one or two human characters from previous books to tie the story together. That said, there is a darker reason why the later Narnia books have not been adapted.
The Final Battle is brutal, disturbing, and asks significant questions about morality and religion before killing virtually all the characters. It would be difficult to market an adaptation without acknowledging its connection to the much more whimsical The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Still, while it is understandable why The Final Battle has never been adapted, it is time this risk was taken.
Why Greta Gerwig Should Adapt The Final Battle
The 2005 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was widely praised, with a 76% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and some of the best fantasy movie performances of all time. This gives Gerwig a lot to live up to, and to make her version stand out, she must give viewers something different from the franchise.
Taking the risk of adapting all the books and making them fit more cohesively will be a major undertaking, but one that could redeem the franchise. It would be the first time that the entire Chronicles of Narnia series has been adapted for the screen, and while The Final Battle would be a challenge on many levels, it could be worth the risk.
Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew is set to release in theaters on November 26, 2026, before coming to Netflix on December 25, 2026.
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
English (US) ·