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Greta Gerwig's Narnia trailer is here, and it's not what you expected
By The Trends Incoming team · 2026-10-14
A Led Zeppelin guitar solo. A lion singing a world into existence. Daniel Craig as a shady magician. Yes, this is Narnia. Netflix released the first trailer for Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew on October 13, and the internet hasn't stopped talking about it since.
What it is
It's the first-ever film adaptation of C.S. Lewis's 1955 novel The Magician's Nephew. It was the sixth Narnia book published, but it comes first in the story's timeline, because it shows how Narnia was created. Two kids, Digory and Polly, get magic rings from Digory's uncle, Andrew Ketterley (Daniel Craig), and end up in the Wood Between the Worlds and beyond. Along the way they meet Jadis (Emma Mackey), the future White Witch. And Meryl Streep voices Aslan.
Newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead the cast, with Carey Mulligan also starring.
Why it's trending
The song, mostly. The trailer is set to "Stairway to Heaven," which is a bold swing for a family fantasy film. EW noted Gerwig is drawing on '60s and '70s rock throughout the film's style. Some fans love it. Some are baffled. Everybody's sharing it. Add the Streep-as-Aslan reveal and Gerwig's first feature since Barbie, and you've got a trend.
The business angle is a story too. Variety reports this is Netflix's first movie to get a global theatrical release. That's a big shift for a streamer that usually goes straight to your couch.
The backstory
Netflix has held the rights to adapt Narnia for years, and Gerwig was tapped to write and direct. She calls herself a lifelong fan. "I don't remember a time when I didn't know the books," she told EW at the trailer event. Starting with The Magician's Nephew instead of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a deliberate choice. It's the beginning of everything. The trailer's opening line spells it out: "Sometimes one story is the beginning of all the others."
Our take
We're in. The rock-and-roll energy makes it feel less like a dusty classic and more like an event. Whether the full movie lands is a February question, but as a first look, it did exactly what a trailer should: it got people arguing.
What's next
- Feb 10, 2027: IMAX-only sneak previews begin.
- Feb 12, 2027: global theatrical release, including IMAX.
- Apr 2, 2027: it arrives on Netflix.
Expect more trailers, posters and cast interviews as February gets closer.
Where to follow it
Netflix's Tudum site has the official dates and footage. Variety and The Guardian have the best early write-ups. The hashtag links below are where the hot takes live, from "this is genius" to "why is Zeppelin in my Narnia."
Quick answers
When does Narnia: The Magician's Nephew come out?
In theaters, including IMAX, on February 12, 2027, with IMAX sneak previews from February 10. It hits Netflix on April 2, 2027.
Who's in it?
Newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead. Daniel Craig plays Uncle Andrew, Emma Mackey plays Jadis and Carey Mulligan also stars. Meryl Streep voices Aslan.
What song is in the trailer?
Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."
Is it a remake of the old movies?
No. It's the first-ever film of The Magician's Nephew, the prequel that shows how Narnia began.
Follow it
The trend card
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew trailer
Greta Gerwig's Narnia, scored to Stairway to Heaven, with Meryl Streep voicing Aslan. Big swing. Our take: it works.
Sources
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-14. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.