In 2016, the Mark Gordon Company, Entertainment One, and The C.S. Lewis Company announced a revival of the Chronicles of Narnia films, intending to start over with The Silver Chair as separate from the prior novels adapted for the big screen by Walt Disney Pictures (2005’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; 2008’s Prince Caspian; and 2010’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Now, the latest announcement comes from Netflix, which is partnering with The C.S. Lewis Company to develop all seven Narnia books into either movies or television series.
“It is wonderful to know that folks from all over are looking forward to seeing more of Narnia, and that the advances in production and distribution technology have made it possible for us to make Narnian adventures come to life all over the world,” said Douglas Gresham, Lewis’ stepson, in the official announcement. “Netflix seems to be the very best medium with which to achieve this aim, and I am looking forward to working with them toward this goal.”
“C.S. Lewis’ beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world,” said Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come.”
Mark Gordon of eOne will serve as a producer for the projects developed during this multiyear deal, along with Gresham and Vincent Sieber. Aside from the aforementioned movies, the series was also adapted for television by the BBC in the 1980s. According to Variety, this deal marks the first time that rights to all seven books have been held by the same company.
