Move over, Tilda Swinton — there’s a new icy villain in town. British actress Emma Mackey, fresh from Barbie’s plastic-fantastic world, has officially landed the role of Jadis, the White Witch, in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Netflix adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia.
And yes, it’s as big as it sounds. Here’s what you need to know about the next fantasy epic.
What will be the plot for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia?
If you’re expecting Turkish delight and wardrobe-related shenanigans, you might want to brush up on your Narnia lore. Gerwig’s first Narnia film is reportedly adapting The Magician’s Nephew, which is actually the sixth book in C.S. Lewis’ series (but a prequel in the Narnia timeline — don’t ask, just go with it).
This means we’ll see the origin story of Narnia itself, including how the White Witch, aka Jadis, first sashays onto the scene and starts turning people into lawn ornaments.
The White Witch is not just any villain — she’s the one who curses Narnia with an endless winter (no Christmas, just vibes) and has a penchant for turning her enemies into stone. So, expect lots of frosty glares and possibly a new generation of kids asking, “Is Turkish delight really that good?”.
Who is cast in Great Gerwig’s Narnia?
Let’s get to the juicy bit: the cast. Emma Mackey, who you might know from Sex Education and, of course, Barbie, is stepping into the role of Jadis, the White Witch. This marks a reunion with Greta Gerwig, who directed Mackey in Barbie, which only made a casual billion dollars at the box office.
According to Deadline, Meryl Streep is in talks to voice Aslan, the talking lion and Narnia’s resident messiah figure. Streep as a giant, wise lion? Oh, I’m sat.
Daniel Craig is reportedly circling the role of Uncle Andrew, the slightly dodgy magician who helps kick off the whole magical mess, per Deadline.
There’s no official word yet on who will play the child leads, Digory and Polly, but casting is underway. And while Charli xcx was once rumoured for the White Witch gig, it ultimately came down to Mackey nabbing the role.
When is Greta Gerwig’s Narnia being released?
Here’s the part you can mark on your calendar. According to Variety, Gerwig’s Narnia will hit IMAX cinemas on Thanksgiving Day 2026 (that’s late November for us Aussies), with a two-week exclusive run before it lands on Netflix just in time for Christmas So, you’ll have the option to see all the magical mayhem on the biggest screen possible, or wait to watch it at home while you nurse a pavlova hangover.
Filming is set to kick off in July 2025, so expect more casting news and sneak peeks to drop over the next year. Netflix is treating this as a major event, so get ready for a marketing blitz and at least one heated group chat debate about whether this will finally be the Narnia adaptation that gets it right.
So there you have it: Emma Mackey is your new White Witch, Greta Gerwig is in the director’s chair, and Meryl Streep might be roaring her way into your heart as Aslan.
Start prepping your Turkish delight now — Narnia is coming back, and it’s going to be bigger, bolder, and probably a bit weirder than you remember.
Lead image: Getty / Narnia
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