Today, a report announced that Beatrice Campbell and David McKenna have been cast as the two lead children in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. They have appeared in The Phoenician Scheme and the Lord of the Flies TV series reboot, respectively. They are set to play Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer after an extensive open casting call by the streaming service. This comes on the heels of production also beginning on the movie today in London. The two children join Daniel Craig, Emma McKay, Carey Mulligan, and Meryl Streep as a gender-swapped Aslan.
There have been a slew of set photos over at NarniaWeb, which show another interesting twist director Greta Gerwig has changed from the original children’s novel. Instead of taking place in Victorian-era England, it has been shifted to the 1950s. Which is really interesting considering this is a prequel to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which takes place during World War 2 in 1940. So does that mean now The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe takes place sometime in the 1990s, decades later? If the streaming network even decides to make any sequels. An extreme tonal shift from the original novels/movies that fans may not be thrilled to hear.
It should be noted that the original novel has Polly and Digory jump between “space,” not specifically through “time,” with their golden rings. They land in the “Wood Between Worlds” and then travel to another universe (i.e., Narnia). Which means the real change Gerwig does is that they could still start in Victorian England, but jump to 1950s England at some point in the film. Though that is pure speculation based on the set photos.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew hits IMAX on Thanksgiving 2026 and streaming on Netflix Christmas 2026
Narnia – The Magician's Nephew Filming in London.
Greta Gerwig is directing for Netflix. pic.twitter.com/2q8a2MK1FV
— UnBoxPHD (@UnBoxPHD) August 11, 2025
Source: What's-on-Netflix
