Portal fantasies have always been one of my go-to genres when I am searching for a new show to binge or a new book series to add to my collection. I’d never really considered why I gravitate towards it until I was reminded of a series from my childhood that is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Two decades have passed since the release of this epic movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ astonishing portal fantasy series, and I still have yet to find anything that measures up to it in the YA category.
A Few Neat Facts About Production
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe first hit theatres in 2005 and was slated as a fantasy adventure film. Andrew Adamson, who was previously known for helping create the movie masterpiece Shrek, was the director of this film as well as the sequel. After the release of the novel in 1950, this was the first live-action film adaptation of the story, and honestly, as someone who loved the books, they did an amazing job at bringing it to life.
One of the cool facts about the film’s production is that The Lord of the Rings movies inspired a significant amount of it. And no, it wasn’t the frightening orcs and giant spiders they were trying to recreate, but rather the beautiful landscapes and heavy focus on character development. To do that, they obviously needed to travel outside of the US (I mean, we have mountains, but not LOTR-type mountains). Therefore, much of the filming took place in countries like New Zealand, Poland, and the Czech Republic, which all created the perfect winter forests and jaw-dropping landscapes needed for such a feat.
The Cast
But as with any film, the setting and the story can only go so far if you don’t choose the right actors for the roles. The film centers around four young siblings, and the makers decided to cast based on how well they fit the roles, regardless of their experience. Out of the four, the only one with prior acting experience was Anna Popplewell, who was cast as the eldest sibling, Susan. The younger siblings, Peter, played by William Moseley, Edmund, played by Skandar Keynes, and Lucy, played by Georgie Henley, all made their debut in Hollywood with this 2005 blockbuster hit. They took a chance by giving these young actors the opportunity of a lifetime, and it seemed to pay off. I don’t see how anyone else could have made these characters come to life in the same way.
To complement these newer, young actors, they cast two very seasoned actors to play the villain and the morally righteous lion. Tilda Swinton was cast to play The White Witch, and Liam Neeson was cast as the voice of Aslan, the lion. Can I just say…Neeson wasn’t just the perfect choice…he was the only choice. When I think of an actor with a voice that is both calming and commanding at the same time, his is certainly the first that comes to mind. That was exactly what was needed for the wise, mythical lion.
It’s a Timeless Film
There aren’t many movies that I can confidently say will be relevant in the years to come. Movies like Back to the Future are probably still watchable, but mostly because it is funny to see the strange advancements they thought we would have in 2015, and not because we want new generations to learn from it. That being said, the Narnia films have core themes that will forever be relevant. Teaching newer generations about courage, family values, and forgiveness is something I worry the film industry has started to forget about, and it makes me appreciate movies like this so much more. What’s even more amazing is that they were able to merge these core values with fantastical elements that entice children and adults alike.
Will We Ever Return to Narnia?
To my surprise, the answer to this question is–YES! Greta Gerwig has partnered with Netflix in a plan to create two new Narnia films that will stream on the platform. The first of which should make its debut on December 25, 2026. This Christmas, Stranger Things–next Christmas, Narnia!
The first movie will be an adaptation of the first chronological book in the Narnia series, titled The Magician’s Nephew. For those not too familiar with the novels, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first novel released for the Narnia series, and The Magician’s Nephew was the sixth book released, but it’s a prequel that dives into how Narnia was created.
Unfortunately, being that the story follows Digory and Polly, two different children who discover Narnia through their rings, we will not see the return of the four siblings from the original films. The Magician’s Nephew does include Aslan and The White Witch, but the adaptation will not include a return of Liam Neeson or Tilda Swinton. I know, I know, it’s unfortunate news, but I’m just the messenger!
Not to add gas to the fire, but the rumor is that Aslan will no longer be the male lion that we know, but instead will be a female lion voiced by Meryl Streep. Some fans, of course, have had a strong negative reaction to this change, but I’m just grateful they chose the female equivalent of Neeson for the role. She has the same ability to command a room but also be sensitive when necessary, so I think it could work.
The only aspect that I am feeling a bit iffy about is that they claimed there will be ‘rock and roll’ vibes to the films. I’m not sure if that means we will be looking at a musical, but either way, I just don’t feel like rock and roll and Narnia mesh well together. The amazing thing about the original film was that they kept true to the books with its faithful, family-friendly adaptation. It was beautiful in all of the ways that it needed to be, and I worry that going too far in a different direction with the story could make it fall short. But hey–I’m still super excited to see what they do with it!
In the end, the 2005 film adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe will forever be something I hold close to my heart, and I’m sure that anyone who was able to experience it in its prime agrees. Some movies help define generations, each for its own reasons, and this film was certainly one of them. It is a movie that inspired a generation of children to fight the good fight, and as difficult as it might sometimes be, being good is a choice that we can always make. Because, as Aslan would say–
