The Chronicles of Narniareboot by Greta Gerwig must avoid a problem that truly hurt the Disney movies' attempt at adapting the source material. Despiteupdates on Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniabeing kept mostly under wraps, many have speculated thatNetflix and Gerwig will make major changes in order to avoid the mistakes the latter two films,Prince CaspianandVoyage of the Dawn Treader,made.That being said, the first film also had its issues, especially when it came to comparing it to the source material.
Whenreading theChronicles of Narniabooks, audiences will find that many creative liberties were taken in the onscreen adaptations, even in the first movie.While this is a normal part of the adaptation process, in the case ofChronicles of Narnia,those changes turned the story into something it was not, with that disconnect continuing to grow in each film. Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniamovies must avoid repeating these same mistakes the original trilogy did, especially in regards to tone.
Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Can Finally Fix A Big Pevensie Problem
Greta Gerwig’s upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia movies have an opportunity to solve a problem regarding the Pevensie siblings in the books.
Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Shouldn’t Change The Tone Of The Books
Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniamovies should keep the hopeful tone from the books rather than shifting it like the original film series did. In the novel series, the tone of the books stays largely consistent, unlike other fantasy narratives.Each story has a strongly hopeful tone despite also having several darker moments, as many times the characters are either visiting Narnia for the first time or discovering new parts of the land. The tone also adds to the messages of the books, which largely focus on themes of self-empowerment, belief, and morality.
At the time of writing, Greta Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniais set to be released on Netflix in late 2025.
The films, by contrast, attempt to make the story closer to an epic fantasy than a coming-of-age narrative, damaging the adaptation’s connection to the books. Each movie is filled with fights, mysteries, and danger, making the story thrilling at the cost of its original identity. By adding in more action and darker elements to make Narnia more dangerous, the films strayed away from the source material’s focus on imparting a message, somethingGerwig’sChronicles of Narniamovies must fix. That tone shift makes the films something they, ultimately, are not, which cost those initial adaptations storywise.
Disney’s Narnia Movies Tried Too Hard To Be Something The Books Weren’t
Those Narnia Movies Borrowed Elements From Other Fantasy Staples
Disney’sChronicles of Narniamovies borrow many elements and tropes from other fantasy stories, turning the films into something the books are not. As mentioned, the darker elements of the original film trilogy make it closer to an epic fantasy.The story is similar to Tolkien’sLord of the Ringswhere the protagonists find both friends and foes during an epic adventure to stop some sort of dictator.However, theChronicles of Narniabooksare more aligned with a classic fairytale, making this tone shift off-putting for audiences who read the Lewis novels.
Though the first book in theChronicles of Narniaseries did have some aspects of Arthurian legend, the series as a whole is largely told in terms of a fairytale.A few of those elements are still in the films, such as the White Witch, but the fairytale core is still ignored. An epic fantasy focuses on the adventure and worldbuilding whereas a fairytale focuses on the lesson being learned. Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniacould work that fairytale tone back into the story while still modernizing it, balancing the expectations of two different audiences.
How Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Reboot Can Strike The Right Balance
Gerwig’s Reboot Can Keep The Original Tone While Updating The Character Stories
to strike the right balance, Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniareboot will need to bring back the original tone but can also update the stories of some characters who got little focus through that tone. In restoring the tone from Lewis’s books, the Netflix reboot would be able to play more into fairytale tropes, keeping audiences engaged.Many who grew up with the films will be expecting something closer to those, so adding these new elements would not only make the remake more faithful to the source but keep audiences on their toes as new stories emerge.
Susan Pevensie’s story in theNarniaremake, for example, could take from more modern fairytale adaptations that focus on themes of feminism and independence, fixing her story several years later.
In the same vein, updating some of the stories from the original books using that tone could keep the story freshwhile still sticking to the source material.Susan Pevensie’s story in theNarniaremake, for example, could take from more modern fairytale adaptations that focus on themes of feminism and independence, fixing her story several years later. This balance would allow Gerwig’sThe Chronicles Of Narniato honor the books and restore their identity while still doing one of the main functions of an adaptation: building on and improving the story.
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narniais 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.
