Ben Barnes has revealed his thoughts on Greta Gerwig and Netflix’s upcoming reboot of the classic Narnia series, marking the first time the actor has publicly addressed the new adaptation.
Film News Blitz’s Lucy Eason reports.
Barnes starred as Prince Caspian in the original film franchise, produced by Walden Media and based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved children’s book series, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Caspian first appears in the series’ second instalment, Prince Caspian. As rightful heir to the throne of Narnia, he joins the Pevensie siblings in reclaiming the kingdom from his tyrannical uncle, Miraz.
In the film’s sequel, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Caspian, now crowned king, once again reunites with the siblings and leads a major sea expedition to the far eastern edge of the world.
An unfinished franchise
The original film franchise was set to adapt all seven instalments of the original book series, and the first three films grossed a worldwide total of $1.5 billion.
However, critical and commercial reception declined with each release.
Declining box office returns and the expiration of Walden Media’s contract with C.S. Lewis’s estate meant the next instalment, The Magician’s Nephew, was never completed.
Attempts were made for several years to revive the franchise for the big screen.
In 2018, Netflix picked up the rights to the Chronicles of Narnia series, and in July 2023 it was announced that Greta Gerwig would direct the reboot.
Gerwig is the renowned film director behind some huge titles, including 2019’s Little Women, starring Timothee Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan, and the 2023 smash-hit Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Unlike previous Narnia adaptations, Gerwig will begin the series with The Magician’s Nephew, which is the fourth book in the series but the first in the story’s chronological timeline.
Ben Barnes shares his thoughts
Now, Barnes has shared his feelings about the reboot, and his response was overwhelmingly positive.
In an interview with ScreenRant for the release of The Institute season 2, Barnes was asked about the new Narnia adaptation for the first time.
The interview took place shortly after the release of a brand-new trailer, which has since grossed over 78 million views.
When asked about the new trailer, Barnes said the film “looked great” and expressed respect for “directors who are real visionaries” and who have “clear ideas about what they want to do.”
He added that he believed Gerwig made the right choice starting with The Magician’s Nephew, and he was “excited” to see what she will do with the franchise going forward.
“Those stories are beautiful”, he said, “but also, every generation needs to reinterpret things, and pull out of stories what seems visceral and important, and present it in a way that is visually exciting, and I think we can rely on her to do that.”
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will be released in cinemas worldwide on 21 February, 2027, with IMAX sneak previews beginning on 10 February, 2027.
It will stream on Netflix from 2 April, 2027.
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