Netflix Faces Backlash Over Greta Gerwig's 'Narnia' Trailer

Netflix is reportedly facing turmoil following the release of the first trailer for Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "The Chronicles of Narnia," with the film "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" appearing to be headed for a difficult reception. The trailer, released in October, has garnered a substantial number of dislikes on YouTube, with reports indicating over 65,000 negative ratings.

This backlash comes as the streaming giant has invested a reported $250 million in the project. Critics of the trailer point to a range of concerns, including the visual effects, the choice of music, and what they perceive as a departure from the core themes and religious undertones of C.S. Lewis's original books. The use of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" over visuals depicting scenes from the early 20th century has been particularly questioned, with some arguing it is tonally incongruous.

Further criticism centers on director Greta Gerwig's previous works, such as "Barbie" and "Little Women," which have been interpreted as prioritizing modern feminist ideology. Concerns have been raised that Gerwig might be imposing similar themes onto the Narnia stories, which are deeply rooted in Christian allegory. The casting of Meryl Streep as Aslan, a character widely understood as a representation of Christ, has also been noted as a point of contention. Additionally, the trailer's depiction of the destruction of The Eagle and Child pub, a significant location in the lives of Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, has been interpreted by some as a symbolic rejection of the source material's origins.

Filming for "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" began in 2025, with the film now slated for a February 2027 theatrical release, a shift from its initially anticipated late 2026 debut. Rumors of extensive reshoots due to poor test screening results have circulated, fueling speculation about the film's quality.

This situation unfolds against a backdrop of recent significant executive departures at Netflix's film division, including the firing of Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, head of film Dan Lin, and his second-in-command Doug Belgrad. While these changes may be part of broader strategic shifts, the potential failure of a high-budget project like "Narnia" could exacerbate existing issues with subscriber growth and content quality. Netflix has not commented on the trailer's reception or the internal executive changes in relation to the "Narnia" project.