Summary
With Greta Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniaadaptations underway, casting is one of the main concerns, andoneGame of Thronesstar would be perfect for the White Witch. After Gerwig’s involvement in the NetflixNarniareboots was announced in 2023, theBarbiedirector has since been working on the early development stages of the film. While not much is known yet aboutGerwig’sNarniaproduction, it’s exciting to know that such a talented filmmaker is behind the next iteration of C.S. Lewis’s classic fantasy novels.
As of August 22, 2025, no casting announcements have been made, but roles like the White Witch and Mr. Tumnus are among the most anticipated, as they’ll likely involve adult movie stars, while the Pevensie children could be relatively unknown actors. In the 2000s DisneyNarniamovies, Tilda Swinton gave a fantastic performance as Jadis the White Witch, making her an unforgettable antagonist opposite Liam Neeson’s Aslan. However, this is all assumingGreta Gerwig begins withThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Lena Headey Would Make The Perfect White Witch In Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot
The Cersei Lannister Actress Would Be Perfect As Jadis The White Witch
Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister through all eight seasons of HBO’sGame of Thrones, would be the perfect choice for Jadis in aNarniareboot. Not only does she look the part, but she’s undoubtedly an incredible actor who’s endlessly captivating in villain roles.Playing Cersei allowed her to tap into that villainy, but the White Witch is devilish in an even more fun and less restrictive way, asNarniaisn’t bound by the same sense of realism.
TheGame of Thronesstar would be exceptional in the role, as she’s already navigated the world of fantasy franchises and adapted characters. While it may seem redundant to bring a familiar fantasy face into another franchise, consider Sean Bean inThe Lord of the RingsandGame of Thrones. Having a familiar face from the genre playing such an iconic character was a massive boon in lifting the series off the ground, especially at the start when it didn’t have an enormous following. These decisions can be important when trying to grow an audience for a new media saga.
Every Chronicles Of Narnia Book, Ranked
C.S. Lewis put lots of time and care into each installment of the Narnia series, but not every book in the universe is equally compelling or strong.
Game Of Thrones Proves Lena Headey Can Play An Impressive Fantasy Villain
Lena Headey Is Outstanding In Game Of Thrones, Adding Depth To The Book Character
Game of ThronesandThe Chronicles of Narniaare practically at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of fantasy story tones. Still, there are innate qualities about some actors that make them believable in a fantasy setting, and Lena Headey has proven capable of being an incredible fantasy villain. One aspect that’s important to note is that while both Cersei and Jadis are crucial characters in their respective stories, neither have a significant number of scenes in their original source material texts.
Cersei, in particular, is only in a handful of scenes in theA Game of Thronesbook, while Jadis has a slightly more expansive role, but still not as large as that of the heroes. In HBO’sGame of Thrones, Cersei had an increased quantity of original scenes in the early seasons to expand on her character, giving her more of a perspective. Lena Headey was so talented and lent such a unique presence to the series that it made Cersei worth exploring further, and she could offer something similar to Jadis.
Which book should Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia start with?
Because Disney’s Narnia series already started with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it’s easy to suggest Greta Gerwig take a different route for her Netflix version. However, I still think it’s the best gateway film to the beginning of her Chronicles of Narnia franchise, and I believe the publication order is still better than C.S. Lewis' chronological order.
Narnia’s White Witch Has Similar Motivations To Cersei Lannister
Both Queens Seek Power And Fear A Prophecy That Has Foretold Their Downfall
Just as Cersei Lannister is ultimately one of the main antagonists inGame of Thrones, the White Witch is the central villain ofThe Chronicles of Narnia. While their origins are quite different, their ultimate motivations are relatively similar.The White Witch is a self-proclaimed queen who desires power and control over Narnia. She succeeds for a time, spreading a harsh winter across the land, but she lives in fear that Aslan will return and crown four humans who will destroy her. Thus, she actively searches for these humans out of paranoia.
In both cases, there’s a queen desiring to defeat all of their enemies and become all-powerful who’s simultaneously consumed by a fear of losing that power.
Similarly, Cersei is tormented by a prophecy from a witch named Maggy the Frog, who told her when she was a child that she would marry the king and eventually be killed by her own brother. Because of this,Cersei lives her life distrustful of anyone around her, especially her brother Tyrion. In both cases, there’s a queen desiring to defeat all of their enemies and become all-powerful who’s simultaneously consumed by a fear of losing that power. Lena Headey would be perfect forThe Chronicles of Narnia.
