Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew Reportedly Heading for Reshoots After Poor Test Screenings

Netflix has staked a lot on an adaptation costing over $300 million and decided not to take any risks following initial test screenings.

Greta Gerwig’s film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is facing additional reshoots. According to insider Jeff Sneider, the decision was made by Netflix executives after test screenings yielded results that fell short of company expectations.

One of the preliminary screenings took place a few months ago in Paramus, New Jersey. Audiences were shown a two-hour version of the picture, which Gerwig presented in person to gather initial feedback. The reaction proved mixed, though attendees reported that they viewed a cut with unfinished editing and visual effects.

Nevertheless, sources claim the test results worried Netflix, prompting the company to schedule additional reshoots in London. It remains unknown how much material Gerwig will need to redo or shoot, and whether this will affect the release schedule.

Netflix’s special attention to the project is understandable given its scale. According to insiders, the budget for The Magician’s Nephew could exceed $320 million. If confirmed, the picture will become the most expensive film in Netflix history, surpassing the Russo brothers’ The Electric State, which cost exactly $320 million to produce.

For this reason, Netflix is also preparing an unusually long theatrical run for Narnia. The film will appear on the big screen on February 12, 2027, and spend 45 days there before arriving on the streaming service on April 2. Netflix pictures typically spend about two weeks or slightly more in theaters, if they release there at all.

The Magician’s Nephew will serve as a prequel to the main story of The Chronicles of Narnia and detail the creation of the magical world. Gerwig has altered the historical context of C.S. Lewis’s book, shifting the setting of the adaptation from the Victorian era to the 1950s.

The cast features Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Ciarán Hinds, Carey Mulligan, David McKenna, and Beatrice Campbell. Seamus McGarvey, who worked on Atonement and the first Avengers film, served as the cinematographer, while Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt composed the music.