After failed deals and pressure from Greta Gerwig’s success and other factors, Netflix’s “Chronicles of Narnia” movies might get a theatrical release. In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novel series, and Gerwig signed on to write and direct at least two movies. With the failure to secure the rights to another adaptation and the success of Gerwig’s “Barbie”, there is now a push for a more substantial theatrical release for “Chronicles of Narnia”. While the details are still unclear, this could potentially mark a new era for Netflix and have positive implications for both filmmakers and the service.
The potential theatrical release of “Chronicles of Narnia” is not without precedent. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” had a limited theatrical run, which reportedly left director Rian Johnson and lead Daniel Craig displeased. Gerwig’s success with “Barbie” shows that she is a filmmaker who can draw in audiences, making a theatrical run of her “Chronicles of Narnia” adaptation potentially profitable. A big-budget family fantasy movie like this could be a perfect testing ground for Netflix to explore more traditional distribution methods. This could not only satisfy filmmakers with contracts at Netflix but also open the service up to other skeptical filmmakers and increase its validity among award bodies.
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