After 2,503 days of waiting, Netflix’s journey to Narnia has officially begun. The streamer’s long-gestating adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy series is now filming, with Greta Gerwig at the helm for The Magician’s Nephew. Cameras rolled this past weekend in central London, transforming the historic Bank Station and The Royal Exchange into a meticulously detailed vision of post-war Britain.
The lavish on-location sets — complete with flower stalls, retro shopfronts, and bustling crowds of extras — reveal a notable creative choice: Gerwig’s adaptation is shifting the original novel’s late 19th-century setting to the 1950s. Multiple eyewitnesses, along with newly surfaced set photos, suggest the story will unfold in 1955, offering a fresh lens on how the White Witch’s arrival might play out against a modernizing London.
A Bold Time Shift For The Narnia Timeline
The Magician’s Nephew serves as both a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and an origin story for Narnia itself, following two children — Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer — as they inadvertently unleash the White Witch into the human world.
By moving the events to the mid-20th century, Gerwig may be laying groundwork for an entirely restructured timeline. If The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe receives a similar update, its WWII backdrop could be replaced with a 21st-century context, pushing the Pevensie adventure into the early 2000s. That shift could dramatically change how later installments connect — a daring move for one of fantasy literature’s most closely guarded mythologies.
Casting The World Of Narnia
Though Netflix has yet to officially confirm the cast, several high-profile names are in circulation. Emma Mackey is reportedly stepping into the role of the White Witch, while Daniel Craig has been linked to Uncle Andrew. Carey Mulligan is in negotiations for a yet-unknown role, and Meryl Streep is expected to voice Aslan, marking a legendary addition to the franchise. On set this weekend, Gerwig was spotted alongside two young actors believed to be the new Digory and Polly, following what insiders describe as an “extensive and global” casting search.
London Becomes A Fantasy Stage
Filming is expected to continue across London, the South East, and Shepperton Studios through early 2026. Onlookers in Bank and The Royal Exchange this weekend caught glimpses of period-accurate signage advertising fictional venues like The Northfield Club and Steapleton Empire, promoting boxing matches, music acts, and theatrical performances — small world building touches hinting at Gerwig’s signature attention to detail.
For now, fans finally have the reassurance they’ve been craving: Netflix’s Narnia isn’t just a concept anymore. The wardrobe door is open and we’re about to step through.
