Netflix pushes Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ to 2027 as streamer bets big on global theatrical rollout

Netflix has delayed writer-director Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated fantasy epic Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, pushing the film’s release from Thanksgiving 2026 to February 12, 2027, as the streaming giant prepares its most ambitious theatrical rollout to date.

Originally planned as a limited two-week IMAX engagement ahead of its Christmas streaming debut, the adaptation will now launch with exclusive IMAX previews beginning February 10 before expanding into a full global theatrical release. 

Netflix confirmed the film will not arrive on the platform until April 2, giving the project an exclusive cinema window of more than 45 days — a major departure from the company’s traditional streaming-first model.

Industry analysts view the move as a landmark moment in Netflix’s evolving relationship with exhibitors, with IMAX calling it a “full theatrical window” and major chains expected to embrace the release. 

The strategy also signals Netflix’s confidence in Gerwig’s post-Barbie drawing power and in the enduring global appeal of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Gerwig’s film adapts The Magician’s Nephew, the origin story that explores the creation of Narnia, and features a starry cast including Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep.

Online fan reaction has been mixed — disappointment over the delay tempered by excitement that Netflix is finally giving the beloved franchise the blockbuster big-screen treatment many believe it deserves.