Greta Gerwig achieved an unprecedented victory: her adaptation of Chronicles of Narnia will be released in cinemas, before being launched on Netflix. Which could shake up the philosophy of the streaming service.
If Greta Gerwig took her first notable steps behind the camera with Lady Bird et The Daughters of Doctor Marchit is especially with the steam roller Barbie (and its $1.4 billion at the box office) that she became one of the most bankable directors in Hollywood. But believing that his status would open all doors for him, and give him all the rights over his next creations, would be like hoping to see a form of social justice appear in the national assembly.
Thus, Greta Gerwig said she was “very afraid” of making the films Narnia for Netflix. The streaming service has held the rights to CS Lewis' novels since 2018 and seemed unsure of what to do with this fantastic material, until the director took it over. Except that for months, Greta Gerwig was caught in a standoff with Netflix to obtain a cinema release of her Chronicles of Narnia. In fact, the filmmaker absolutely wanted the film to be screened in cinemas and after months of heated discussions… she seems to have won her case.
Netflix vs Gerwig
Since its creation, Netflix has made home consumption his spearhead. But now, market developments (notably with competition from Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) and criticism of the quality of its productions have probably forced the platform to reevaluate its strategies. With projects like At loggerheads or The IrishmanNetflix had timidly explored theatrical releases (but not in France, obviously), however these initiatives remained marginal. But following the battle won by Greta Gerwig, the dynamic could change.
According to information revealed by ScreenRant et PuckNetflix, Greta Gerwig and IMAX theaters have reportedly reached a tripartite agreement resulting in the diffusion of Chronicles of Narnia in IMAX theaters. This agreement would concern 90 countries. Nothing has yet been announced regarding exhibition in China, as the film is still awaiting approval by the Chinese government's broadcasting and regulatory services. The situation in France is also uncertain, because of media chronology rules.
A RELEASE DATE FOR NETFLIX’S NARNIA
Netflix has thus set a very strategic release date for the Narnia by Greta Gerwig in theaters, namely Thanksgiving 2026. The red N brand has agreed to delay streaming of film until Christmaswhich will leave the film with an exploitation of four weeks in theaters.
IMAX has already reserved its screens for the first two weeks, with the possibility of a third if the feature film is successful. Furthermore, note that it is likely that certain cinemas not equipped with IMAX also plan to screen the film before its availability on Netflix.
For a possible theatrical release in Francethe problem is twofold. On the one hand, if the film is released in theaters at the end of November 2026, it can only be streamed on Netflix 15 months after its cinema release. It could possibly be available on VOD and SVOD four months after its theatrical release, but it seems unlikely that Netflix would be satisfied with such a situation.
-The second option would be that the film Narnia not released in theaters in France, so that Netflix makes it directly available to its subscribers French. This would be a way of bypassing the rules of media chronology but would penalize the public, who would then be deprived of the spectacle on the big screen.
Making Narnia profitable
But why is Greta Gerwig so keen on a theatrical release? The main argument seems to be the collective experience that cinema offersan element that she considers essential to fully experience a story as universal as The Chronicles of Narnia. She designed this adaptation so that it would be seen that way (why did you sign with Netflix, you ask us?… excellent question).
This desire also reveals the director's deep attachment to cinemas and their defenselike many Hollywood colleagues since the pandemic.
However, the choice of theatrical distribution is also risky. With a colossal budget, estimated at more than $200 millionNetflix is betting big on the attractiveness of Greta Gerwig and the popularity of the franchise Narnia. If the bet succeeds, it could pave the way for other Netflix films in theatersthus offering a viable alternative to an economic model sometimes considered too restrictive.
By winning this battle, Greta Gerwig perhaps pushes Netflix to reevaluate its founding principles. The Chronicles of Narnia could be a life-size test to determine if the platform is ready to evolve, to free itself from the shackles of the small screen, and to anchor itself sustainably in a cinematographic landscape. Especially since its rivals Disney+ and Amazon Prime (with The Ministry of Dirty War for example) are also exploring hybrid methods, at least across the Atlantic. Netflix could therefore be forced to review its approach to remain competitive.
The Chronicles of Narnia, directed by Greta Gerwig, will be released in American theaters November 26, 2026, and on Netflix December 25, 2026.
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