Barbie director Greta Gerwig is said to be unhappy with Netflix over Narnia’s lack of a cinema release. One report suggests the filmmaker wants out.
Here’s a story that isn’t particularly surprising given the turn of events that have preceded it. Greta Gerwig was catapulted into the rarified air of Hollywood’s most successful directors last year following the smash success of Barbie. Before that, the filmmaker’s work (such as Lady Bird and Little Women) was deeply admired, but Barbie’s huge commercial success elevated Gerwig to a point where she could choose any project she desired.
Gerwig never really got a chance to exercise that power, however, given that she’d already signed on to make not two Narnia films for Netflix before Barbie came out. In the wake of Barbie's success, rather than use her increased collateral to get a personal dream project off the ground, the filmmaker has instead been trying to crack a screen adaptation of CS Lewis’ seven book series, and has admitted that she’s been finding it very, very tough.
According to Puck, Gerwig has been quietly trying to negotiate with Netflix over the possibility of her Narnia films getting a theatrical release, but the streamer is adamant that the films will be exclusively released on its platform. For a filmmaker as hot as Gerwig is right now to not have a film release in cinemas for several years feels like a waste, something we suggested might happen all the way back in 2022 when Barbie was in production.
Read more: Barbie review | Crikey, they pulled it off
Here’s Matt Belloni’s comments (via Puck): “Gerwig has also been raising concerns with Lin [the head of Netflix’s film division] about the theatre issue, given the scope and grandeur of the material. It’s all been friendly requests so far – demands and screaming isn’t really Gerwig’s style – but she’s clearly bummed about the platform she’s being offered – and not offered. Netflix, which has the rights to all the Narnia books, would very much like to give an A-list director what she wants. But, again, theatres are not their model.”
Empire City's report goes even further, suggesting that Gerwig actually wants out of the Narnia project entirely. Netflix will likely be reluctant to allow this, though. It has one of Hollywood’s most in-demand filmmakers tied up for the next five years and would surely resist any attempts by Gerwig to evade the deal she’s made.
This story could yet grow if both sides dig their heels in. Whether that happens, we’ll have to wait and see. Rest assured, when we hear more on this front, we’ll let you know.