Latest news with #WhiteWitch
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carey Mulligan joins cast of Greta Gerwig's Narnia adaptation
Carey Mulligan is reportedly in talks to join the cast of Narnia, Greta Gerwig's forthcoming adaptation of CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia fantasy novel series. The first instalment of the Oscar-nominated director's two-part film series will be released for a two-week run in Imax theatres worldwide next November, before moving to Netflix on Christmas Day, 2026. Gerwig's film will be based on the sixth novel in Lewis' series, The Magician's Nephew, which is a prequel to the series and features the creation of Narnia by Aslan the lion, one thousand years before the events that take place in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Magician's Nephew follows two children, Digory and Polly, who are subject to the White Witch's fury after their uncle dabbles with magic. In huge casting news for Gerwig's first directorial project since 2023's record-breaking Barbie, Mulligan will play Digory's critically ill mother, per The Hollywood Reporter. Mulligan, considered by many the leading English star of her generation, has been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar three times for her performances in Bradley Cooper's Maestro (2023), Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman (2020) and Lone Scherfig's An Education (2009). Casting rumours have been flying about Narnia, with Meryl Streep reportedly in talks to voice Aslan. There's also been speculation that Daniel Craig will play the children's uncle and Barbie and Sex Education star Emma Mackey is set to play Jadis, the White Witch, following rumours that pop star Charli XCX was previously under consideration for the role. The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment. Published between 1950 to 1956, Lewis' bestselling book series chronicles the adventures of various children who are transported into the fictional world of Narnia. Three of the seven titles have been adapted for the big screen, including The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). Gerwig became attached to the new project in 2020, the same year her critically acclaimed Little Women adaptation was nominated for several Oscars. Before that, her solo directorial debut, Lady Bird (2017), also earned numerous Oscar nods. She has since continued to blaze trails in the film industry. In 2023, her Barbie comedy, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, raked in over $1bn at the box office, making her the highest-grossing female director of all time.
The Herald Scotland
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'Spectacular': Review: The Lion, Witch & Wardrobe @ Festival Theatre
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Neil Cooper Five stars A World War Two soldier is playing We'll Meet Again on the piano at the start of this latest tour of C.S. Lewis' classic morality tale. The melancholy melody is about the most down to earth thing you're likely to see over the next two hours of a show that turns its dramatic world upside down in epic fashion. Scaled up by director Michael Fentiman from Sally Cookson's 2017 version at Leeds Playhouse, the result is spectacular. The opening song sets the tone for the wartime evacuation of the four Pevensie children, who are decamped to Aberdeen, where the allure for their new home's spare room proves too much for the eternally curious Lucy. Before she knows where she is she has gone beyond the flea ridden fur coats and landed in Narnia. As imagined by designer Tom Paris and original designer Rae Smith, the Narnia under the queendom of Katy Stephens' White Witch's more resembles some Fritz Lang styled dystopia driven by a constructivist chain gang who seem to have stepped out of a 1970s adult SF comic. Read more Yes, the White Witch has got the power, as she proves with her jawdropping metamorphosis at the end of the first act, but Spring is coming. This is the case even if Lucy's daft brother Edmund sells out his siblings for a bumper sized box of Turkish Delight personified by way of Toby Olié and Max Humphries' larger than life puppetry. Fentiman's slickly oiled machine is driven by Barnaby Race and Benji Bower's chamber folk score played by the cast of more than twenty throughout. Despite the show's grandiose staging, it is the humanity of the piece that gives the show its heart and soul. This is even the case with Stanton Wright's messianic looking Aslan, embodied by a life size lion puppet beside him as he spars with the White Witch and her well drilled minions. As Shanell 'Tali' Fergus' choreography navigates the cast from dark to light, it is the Pevensie clan who shine. Joanna Adaran as Susan, Jesse Dunbar as Peter, Kudzai Mangombe as Lucy and Shane Anthony Whiteley stepping up as Edmund for a Thursday matinee briefly halted by technical gods all rise to the occasion in a big show that never loses sight of the eternal story at its heart.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Emma Mackey cast as the White Witch in Greta Gerwig's Narnia
The White Witch has arrived in Narnia. Actor Emma Mackey is reteaming with Greta Gerwig after Barbie to play the evil queen in the upcoming adaptation of CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia books backed by Netflix. Reportedly based on the sixth Narnia book The Magician's Nephew , Gerwig will be writing as well directing the upcoming film. Mackey is taking over the baton from Tilda Swinton who played the iconic character in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). She is set to join Meryl Streep, who is in negotiations to play Aslan, the lion who is Narnia's guardian and guide for the entire community who reside in it. Earlier, Margaret Qualley was in talks to star as the White Witch. The White Witch's real name is Jadis, is the main antagonist for The Magician's Nephew and the beloved Narnia book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . She turns her enemies into statues and is infamous for putting Narnia in an eternal winter. The film is scheduled to debut in theatres on Thanksgiving Day in 2026 for two weeks before its OTT run—a rare move for the streamer—following Gerwig's request. Gerwig, whose Barbie broke box office records in 2023, has been attached to the Narnia project since 2020 after earning critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for Lady Bird. Netflix acquired the rights to the beloved fantasy series in 2018 and aims to turn it into a major franchise. Emma Mackey, widely recognized for her role in Netflix's Sex Education , has secured major parts in several upcoming projects. She stars alongside Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega in JJ Abrams' upcoming Warner Bros. feature, appears in Julia Ducournau's Alpha —set to premiere at next month's Cannes Film Festival—and takes on the lead role in James L. Brooks' comedy Ella McCay , arriving in theaters on December 12.
Perth Now
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Emma Mackey to play White Witch in Greta Gerwig's Narnia film
Emma Mackey has been offered the role of the White Witch in Greta Gerwig's 'Chronicles of Narnia' film. The 'Sex Education' actress with reunite with her 'Barbie' director on Gerwig's upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis' iconic fantasy novels for Netflix. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mackey, 29, will star as Jadis the White Witch – the role previously played by Tilda Swinton in 2005's 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' and its two sequels. Gerwig's 'Narnia' feature is set to tackle the sixth novel of the series, 'The Magician's Nephew'. Along with directing, Gerwig has written the script. While Deadline previously reported that singer Charlie XCX was being considered for the role of the White Witch, THR reports that Mackey beat off competition from 'The Substance' star Margaret Qualley for the part. Meanwhile, Daniel Craig has also reportedly been offered a role in the film, according to Deadline. While conversations are at a "super early" stage, it's unknown which character he would be playing, and it's yet to be seen if he'll actually sign on the dotted line. In 2018, Netflix announced it would be making a new movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis' fantasy series of the same name, and signed Gerwig to direct the project two years later. While updates on the 'Narnia' flick have been slow since then, it was recently reported that Gerwig had successfully convinced the streaming giant to give her film an extended run on IMAX screens globally.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Emma Mackey cast as White Witch in Greta Gerwig's 'Chronicles of Narnia' movie
Sex Education star Emma Mackey is set to step into the magical world of Narnia as she has been roped in to play a key character in filmmaker Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated adaptation of author C S Lewis' classic book series. Mackey, who earlier collaborated with Gerwig for the blockbuster movie Barbie, will essay the role of the White Witch, the primary antagonist who was previously portrayed by Tilda Swinton in the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In the project, she will join Oscar-winner Meryl Streep, who is reportedly in talks to voice Aslan, the noble lion who guides and protects the children drawn into Narnia's enchanted realm. Gerwig's adaptation is expected to launch a new chapter for the franchise under the Netflix banner. The filmmaker has penned the screenplay and is directing the film, which is reportedly based on 'The Magician's Nephew', the sixth book in Lewis' novel series. The story features the White Witch, also known as Jadis, in a central role. Narnia is currently scheduled for a global IMAX release in November 2026. The movie will play exclusively for two weeks in theatres before making its debut on Netflix. The streamer first announced plans to adapt Lewis' fantasy series into new films and television shows in 2018. Gerwig joined the project in 2020, following her Oscar-nominated directorial debut with Lady Bird and her widely praised adaptation of Little Women.
