The first trailer for Greta Gerwig's Narnia adaptation, The Magician's Nephew, has been released, and it's already sparking debate over its heavy use of computer-generated imagery.
The trailer opens with the line, 'Sometimes one story is the beginning of all others,' before sweeping through what Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook describes as 'strangely psychedelic realms.' This is the first screen adaptation of C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, the first chronological book in the Narnia series, which explains the creation of Narnia and how a London lamppost ended up there.
A Trailer Full of Visual Spectacle
Set to Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven,' the trailer follows Polly and Digory, two Edwardian children who stumble upon the Wood Between Worlds, where pools lead to other universes. They then witness Aslan, voiced by Meryl Streep, forge Narnia. However, Cook notes that the 'glittery rock opera' began to lose her at this point, with visuals that look 'more like an off-the-shelf Marvel project.'
The Netflix announcement states: 'As a lifelong fan, Gerwig is beyond thrilled to bring her singular vision to this beloved world.' Cook, a Gerwig fan herself, was thrilled too, but she argues the trailer doesn't deliver a 'singular vision,' instead showing actors blurring with 'twinkly, bisexual lighting' in a way that flattens the fantastical realm into green-screen action.
Franchise Ambitions and CGI Fatigue
The trailer's emphasis on 'infinity worlds' hints at Netflix's hopes for a sprawling franchise, similar to Disney's Marvel, Prime Video's Lord of the Rings, or HBO's Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. The poster tagline reads, 'A universe begins.' However, Cook points out that many such attempts have failed, and 'looking like another successful franchise doesn't guarantee this will be one too.'
The excessive CGI is particularly disappointing given that Gerwig's Barbie was praised for its anti-CGI approach, using practical effects and craft models. Cook notes that 'CGI fatigue is real' and that complaints are already being made online, though many are also thrilled by the trailer.
It was reported that Gerwig used puppeteers, real animals, and creature performers during production, which is encouraging for the unseen majority of the film. Cook concludes, 'I still trust Gerwig to deliver the enchanting, epic world Netflix is already touting this will be. But this trailer hasn't convinced me of it quite yet.'
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will be in theatres on February 12, 2027, and on Netflix on April 2, 2027.
