Greta Gerwig Is Fighting Netflix for a Chronicles of Narnia IMAX Release

Greta Gerwig‘s dispute with Netflix over her new Chronicles of Narnia reboot might have reached an amicable conclusion. Gerwig is set to helm a new feature film reboot based on the beloved C.S. Lewis novels of the same name. Fans will remember the first attempt to turn the seminal fantasy series into a cinematic franchise, which began with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 2005. While those projects were exclusively released in theaters (as were most blockbusters during the ’00s), Gerwig has reportedly clashed with executives at Netflix who wanted the new Narnia movie to be released directly on the streaming platform.

But according to a report from Puck journalist Matt Belloni, Greta Gerwig is pushing for a limited IMAX release as a minimum requirement before the movie hits Netflix. The report hasn’t been confirmed by anyone in either Netflix or Gerwig’s camp. So far, Gerwig’s Narnia is building out its cast, with frequent collaborator Saoirse Ronan rumored to have a role in the film. Said Belloni:

“Interesting:
Greta Gerwig is talking to IMAX about putting her NARNIA movie on 2000 screens
, potentially before it hits Netflix. Huge if this happens.”

The report was met with an oddly mixed response online. You’d think fans would relish the opportunity to witness the new Greta Gerwig film on the big screen. However, audiences seem to be divided by the concept. Some agree that Narnia – and all major direct-to-streaming movies – should be granted a theatrical release of some kind. Others appear to be defending Netflix’s decision to keep the film as a streaming-only release for some inexplicable reason. Meanwhile, a small section of users are preemptively writing off the movie, either out of hatred for Greta Gerwig’s work on Barbie, or their die-hard love for the original Narnia franchise.

All Streaming Blockbusters Should Receive Theatrical Releases First

If her new Narnia reboot is released on IMAX before it debuts on Netflix, it will follow and cement a new release trend for streaming services. Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon was awarded a limited theatrical run before it was added to Apple TV+. Even Netflix has treated some of its past exclusives to theatrical releases. Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery had a week-long theatrical release before hitting Netflix. Last year saw Aardman’s latest (and not-so-greatest) film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, released in select theaters before getting lost among the streamer’s vast content library.

Not only would it be bizarre for Narnia to be released exclusively on Netflix when Dawn of the Nugget got a theatrical release, but the streamer would be leaving money on the table. Greta Gerwig has already proven her abilities at handling major IP. Barbie was a pop-culture sensation, and a massive success for Warner Bros. in 2023. As well as cashing in on the Barbie brand, and featuring the pitch-perfect casting of Margot Robbie as the titular doll, the film also helped to cement Greta Gerwig as a box office draw in her own right. Though not quite at the level of directors like Quentin Tarantino or Scorsese – yet – attaching Gerwig’s name to a project is now bound to draw in ticket buyers.