While the world waits to see if Barbie 2 will ever come to pass, the director and co-writer behind that billion-dollar sensation is quietly making power moves in other cinematic realms. We’ve known for awhile that Greta Gerwig is spearheading Netflix’s Chronicles of Narnia reboot, but a new report reveals the C.S. Lewis adaptation will get an IMAX showcase before it arrives on the streamer.
According to Puck News, Gerwig’s Narnia movie “will hit about 1,000 IMAX screens worldwide on Thanksgiving Day 2026 and will not appear on Netflix until Christmas,” with a two-week IMAX run guaranteed and an option to add a third if there’s enough audience interest. Also, “there’s a chance” Narnia might also play in some non-IMAX theaters ahead of its streaming debut. In addition, “Netflix has committed to market the IMAX release like a typical theatrical tentpole movie and identify Narnia as a ‘Netflix/IMAX’ title from the outset.”
Puck reports this deal came about in spite of Netflix’s well-known preference against showing its movies theatrically—unless said showing is in service of drumming up awards nominations—because co-CEO Ted Sarandos realized the importance of “placating” the Oscar-nominated Gerwig, whose films besides Barbie include Little Women and Lady Bird. She also co-wrote Disney’s upcoming live-action Snow White.
The outlet points out that the 1,000 IMAX screens for two weeks is a wider and longer release than a similarly high-profile Netflix production—Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: Knives Out Mystery—received back in 2022, and wonders if perhaps more big-name directors will follow Gerwig’s example and push Netflix for similar deals. (You have to guess fans sure wouldn’t mind a similar release strategy for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which is slated to hit the streamer at some point this year.)
Are you excited to see Gerwig’s Narnia on the big, big screen in 2026—or will you wait a few weeks more to stream it on Netflix?
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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