Aslan Creates Narnia in ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ Trailer Featuring ‘Stairway to Heaven’

Greta Gerwig‘s rock-inspired, fantastical vision for C. S. Lewis’ magical world of Narnia has been revealed, and for the first time ever, Led Zeppelin‘s iconic “Stairway to Heaven” has been licensed for use in a movie. In the trailer, the music ushers in Aslan (voiced by Meryl Streep), who appears as a majestic constellation in some kind of outer space, bringing Narnia into existence with an explosive roar. See the Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew trailer above.

The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker brings C. S. Lewis’ beloved story The Magician’s Nephew to the screen for the first time in a sweeping adventure that invites dreamers of all ages to experience the creation of Narnia. It’s the first time the first chronological book in Lewis’ Narnia franchise has been adapted for the big screen. While it was the sixth book published in the series, it is the origin story that predates The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

“I was a child when I first read The Magician’s Nephew, and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life,” Gerwig said in a statement. “I didn’t know that I would grow up to make films, but a universe built out of music is an idea that always lived in my heart. It is the honor of a lifetime to be asked to imagine it into being. Because of C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, I believed in magic and hidden worlds and adventure. I believed that anywhere could be enchanted and that anyone could be swept up into an epic. That wonder and awe was available to everyone, even ordinary people like me…It transformed me.”

Gerwig convinced Netflix to give her Narnia movies a full theatrical release before they arrive on the streaming service. Here’s everything you need to know about The Magician’s Nephew, the first movie of Gerwig’s Narnia adaptations.

When does Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew come out in theaters?

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew comes out in theaters and in IMAX worldwide on February 12, 2027.

Empire’s exclusive subscriber cover for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is an epic sneak-peek at Aslan literally creating Narnia itself, courtesy of one of the film’s concept artist Jaime Jones.

Read more: https://t.co/scgVs5Im6A https://t.co/OubVm7mjrc

— Empire (@empiremagazine) September 17, 2026

The C. S. Lewis Company said in a statement, “It’s incredibly moving to see how deeply Greta Gerwig has embraced C. S. Lewis’s world, and infused Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew with joy, heart, and genuine love for the story. We’re so excited for audiences everywhere to experience her vision — and to share the magic of Narnia with a whole new generation.”

When does Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew come out on Netflix?

The Magician’s Nephew is getting a full theatrical release of 30+ days. It comes out on Netflix on April 2.

Who is in the Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew cast?

Written and directed by Gerwig, the film stars Daniel Craig as the titular magician, Uncle Andrew, newcomers David McKenna as Digory Kirke and Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, Emma Mackey as Jadis (a.k.a. the White Witch), Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, Ciarán Hinds as a mysterious narrator, Streep as Aslan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Francis. Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma‘s characters have not been revealed, nor has the true identity of Hinds’ narrator.

How many Greta Gerwig Narnia movies will there be?

Gerwig is contracted to write and direct at least two Narnia films. The title and release window for the second film have not been announced.

The cinematography of Greta Gerwig’s ‘NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW’ by Seamus McGarvey.

In theaters and IMAX on February 12. https://t.co/lAvGe3Amln

— A Shot (@ashotmagazine) October 13, 2026

First published in 1955, The Magician’s Nephew is the origin story of The Chronicles of Narnia series depicting the creation of C. S. Lewis’ magical realm and leads to the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The Chronicles of Narnia book series includes:

• The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
• The Horse and His Boy (1954)
• Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
• The Silver Chair (1953)
• The Last Battle (1956)

The previous Narnia movies were The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).

Who is making the music for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew?

Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt made an original score for the film. They previously made the score for Gerwig’s Barbie. Music supervision is by George Drakoulias.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew Trailer Reactions

People online doubted Gerwig’s Narnia rock opera vision when it was first revealed, but the trailer has made some cast their doubts aside. See social media reactions to The Magician’s Nephew trailer below.

wait this tore… https://t.co/tNM5qOU1EH

— jolt (@meltborne) October 13, 2026

“have you ever seen a world born?” Aslan being shown made of stars and exploding into being with a roar creating life in Narnia, a universe being made… loved this so much can’t wait to see the whole sequence. https://t.co/c3mjZCxCqS

— Sofía (@starkcanarie) October 13, 2026

My fault Greta https://t.co/UlkSUvqceQ

— joe bro (@jbromovies) October 13, 2026

https://t.co/uI2IN1Eg7c

— dhanush 🍉 (@spunchbawbII) October 13, 2026

You know what I fuck with a Ken Russell rock opera Rainbow Brite christianity spectacular directed by Greta Gerwig.

— coleman spilde (@colemanjspilde) October 13, 2026

The concept of visualizing the creation of Narnia like its Aslans big own cosmic painting oh MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— AJ (@AjepArts) October 13, 2026

The concept of visualizing the creation of Narnia like its Aslans big own cosmic painting oh MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— AJ (@AjepArts) October 13, 2026

Greta said: https://t.co/lsGuHDzlQQ

— thucksgiving (@TylerHuckabee) October 13, 2026

the way Greta portrays the sheer awe and majesty of witnessing divine creation…I have already been transformed by seeing this https://t.co/wljffamJiJ

— Georgia Coley (@artwithinpod) October 13, 2026

Greta Gerwig is spending $280 million on a Narnia movie where the biggest spectacle is a world being born. Most blockbusters that expensive spend the money blowing one up. 😭

C.S. Lewis had Aslan sing Narnia into existence, and Gerwig personally approached Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant to secure “Stairway to Heaven.”

She’s making music central to the creation of an entire universe. That soundtrack has some serious expectations to live up to.

— MaxB (@MegaMaxing) October 13, 2026

“Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters.” https://t.co/QILOFyUS1W

— 🏹๋˚ (@witchofcharn) October 13, 2026

Stairway to Heaven is an insane pull for Narnia man goddamn

— 🕷️Smart Alec🕸️ (@_TheSmartAlec1) October 13, 2026

Aslan creating Narnia. That was pure cinematic glory. https://t.co/uvoz17So65

— 🎃 Jeffrey Wrong 🎃 (@NewTSage) October 13, 2026

Shit, alright, maybe I should learn to stop doubting Greta Gerwig. This looks visually insane and bonkers, but in a very creative way.

But I’m also not a huge Narnia fan, outside of the original films, so I can’t measure how this looks as an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

— Natalie (Nat/Nattie) 🏳️‍⚧️ (@ResonantJustice) October 13, 2026

What Gerwig has nailed is the fact that #Narnia is spiritual, it’s not plain old spectacle magic like the rather simplistic Harry Potter and his wand, it’s got a real depth to it. Dark magic, the universe, and the soul. That’s the story world this series is built upon.

— Guy Lambert (@GuyLambertUK) October 13, 2026

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, In Theaters February 12, Streaming Premiere, April 2, Netflix