Although we don’t yet know which two books Greta Gerwig is adapting for Netflix’sThe Chronicles of Narniareboot, I’m tentatively excited to see how the adaptation nails one of the books' worst villains: Uncle Andrew. A series of seven children’s fantasy novels by C.S. Lewis,The Chronicles of Narniahas made the leap from page to screen before, most notably with the 2005 adaptation ofThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Although it was published first,The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobeis actually the second installmentinLewis’Narniabook series.
I think most people envision the story of the 2005 film when they think of theNarnianovels, but I’m excited to see howGreta Gerwig’sThe Chronicles of Narniarebootwill tackle the book series and its unusual arc. Some sources indicate that Gerwig will tackleThe Silver Chairfirst (viaWhat’s On Netflix) — the sixth book in the chronology of Narnia’s history, but I thinkthere’s a strong possibility that Gerwig’s two-movie deal will include an adaptation ofThe Magician’s Nephew, which is sequenced as the first book in recent releases.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe(1950)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
The Horse and His Boy(1954)
Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot Is Sure To Do A Great Job With The Villain Uncle Andrew
The Underrated Villain Needs To Have A Key Role In Gerwig & Netflix’s Narnia Reboot
InThe Chronicles of Narnianovels,Uncle Andrew is, in my opinion, the most despicable character Lewis ever penned. Known as Andrew Ketterley, the underrated villain is Digory Kirke’s uncle, but, perhaps more importantly, he was also one of the first humans to set foot in Narnia. Even though Uncle Andrew grew up with two sisters, Letitia and Mabel, and was raised by his godmother, Mrs. Lefay, he’s incredibly misogynistic. This frustrates me even more because Mrs. Lefay was the one who told Andrew about the very existence of other worlds, though the contradiction also makes him a memorable villain.
…[Andrew is] willing to sacrifice these “lesser” people during his experiments.
Before Mrs. Lefay dies, she gives Andrew a magical box and tells him to destroy it. Instead of listening, Uncle Andrew studies magic and lives off Letitia’s charity. In the end, he becomes an adept magician who’s determined to access other worlds, like Narnia. Cruel and selfish,Uncle Andrew believes he’s more important than women and children, and he’s willing to sacrifice these “lesser” people during his experiments. Clearly,Narniahas problems Gerwig must fixor address. Andrew’s attitude reflects some disturbingly popular views held during the early 1900s, so I can’t wait for Gerwig to tackle this awful character.
The Barbie Movie Inspires Confidence That Greta Gerwig Will Get Uncle Andrew Right
Greta Gerwig’s 2023 Blockbuster Tackled The Patriarchy & The Harm It Causes
InBarbie, which garnered $1.446 billion at the box office, Gerwig uses the Mattel toys to tackle the insidious nature of patriarchy. When Barbie (Margot Robbie) believes something is wrong with her, she heads to the human world with Ken (Ryan Gosling), who’s hopelessly in love with her. In the real world,Barbie’s unexpected villain twisttakes center stage when Ken discovers the concept of patriarchy and brings the power structure to Barbie Land.This plot line is exactly why I think Gerwig can deftly handle a villain as cruel as Uncle Andrew.
Barbie opened viewers' eyes to real-world harm, using an incredibly accessible subject…
AlthoughBarbiereceived some understandable backlash for its on-the-nose handling of the harms of patriarchy, I can’t completely fault the movie’s lack of nuance. A mainstream blockbuster,Barbieopened viewers' eyes to real-world harm, using an incredibly accessible subject and a comedic, often-welcoming lens.The Chronicles of Narniabooks are a different beast entirely, but it’s abundantly clear thatGerwig has the awareness and determination to not just gloss over problematic characters or ideas. In fact,all of Greta Gerwig’s movies, fromLady BirdtoLittle Women, have prepared her for a 2020sNarniareboot.
The Barbie Movie’s Biggest Backlash Misses What The Film Was Really Trying To Say
Despite its positive critical reception, Barbie has faced backlash for its positive message. However, the negativity misunderstands the movie’s themes
Netflix’s Narnia Movies Should Expand On The Magician’s Nephew Character
Uncle Andrew Is A Crucial Part Of The Portal Fantasy’s Origin Story
When I think back onThe Magician’s Nephewpre-Narniareboot, I picture Uncle Andrew as a villainous caricature. Instead of making him a mustache-twirling, mad scientist type, Gerwig’sNarniareboot could transform Andrew into someone viewers could, hypothetically, encounter in their everyday lives. WhileC.S. Lewis' depiction paints Uncle Andrew as an obvious villain, Gerwig could tackle his more insidious evils. On the outside, Uncle Andrew seems like a misunderstood, magic-obsessed longer, which would makeThe Chronicles of Narnia’s reveal of his cruel beliefs much more jarring and, sadly, realistic.
As of September 2024, Greta Gerwig and Netflix’s two-movieThe Chronicles of Narniareboot does not have a release date.
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narniais a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an upcoming reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
