The Chronicles of Narniais getting a reboot on Netflix, butthere’s a more interesting way to revisit the story than with another remake: by turning it into a horror project.C.S. Lewis’Narniabookshave been adapted before, thoughDisney’s iteration of the story was cut shortafterVoyage of the Dawn Treader.Greta Gerwig’sNarniaremakeseeks to bring the fantasy story to the screen once again, though it’s not clear what the two movies Gerwig is confirmed for will cover.
Rumorssuggest that aNarniaprequel is being made, which means we’ll seeThe Magician’s Nephewbrought to the silver screen at long last. It’s possible Netflix will want to cover the whole story after Gerwig’s confirmed movies, but it’sa shame no studio is taking a bigger risk withNarnia.While the original fantasy narrative is a beloved classic, it’d be interesting to see a more bonkers approach to Lewis' tales. With so many children’s stories being turned into horror movies,one has to wonder what that could look like forThe Chronicles of Narnia.
7A New Take On Narnia Would Be More Exciting Than Rehashing The Books Again
A Fresh Perspective Would Be More Interesting
Although the prospect of seeingThe Chronicles of Narniaadapted in full is exciting, most fans of Lewis' series know what’s coming — and they’ve seen several of the books brought to the screen already. While the handful ofNarniabooks that haven’t been adapted will feel fresh and interesting,remaking stories likeThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobecould feel repetitive if not handled correctly. Fortunately, Gerwig tacklingThe Magician’s Nephewoffers hope that she’s trying to keep things fresh. But a more off-the-rails approach would surprise even fans of the books.
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TwistingThe Chronicles of Narniainto a horror adaptation would offer a totally fresh and revamped take on the story, as the possibilities are nearly endless. Such a work wouldn’t have to stick as closely to the source material, as it would be a reimagining rather than a proper adaptation. A wholly unique perspective like this could accomplish things that straightforward adaptations of the book are unable to.It could also keep even the most seasonedNarniafans guessing throughout its run.
6Narnia’s Fairy Tale Elements Lend Themselves Well To A Horror Adaptation
The Whimsy Could Easily Be Twisted Into Something Sinister
The whimsy of fairy tales can easily be twisted into horror, and that would work inThe Chronicles of Narnia’s favor.There are so many elements ofNarnia’s setting that could be turned into something sinisterwithout much work. Creatures like Mr. Tumnus could be depicted as grotesque rather than cute and charming, and the iconic lamp-post could be touted as a darker symbol of home. It could represent the hope of escape rather than something warmer and more innocent. Meanwhile, the wardrobe could quite literally represent monsters lurking in the closet.
Warping the childlike wonder and innocence ofNarniawould be very doable, as so many fairy tales have darker iterations.
Warping the childlike wonder and innocence ofNarniawould be very doable, as so many fairy tales have darker iterations — and many horror/fantasy movies lean heavily on fairy tale imagery. WithThe Chronicles of Narniaalready having those elements in place, it wouldn’t be a huge jump to put more disturbing spins on them.Narnia’s story already has details that could be perceived as subtly dark, so it would only be a matter of making those more overt.
5The White Witch Would Make A Great Horror Villain
Jadis Could Be Even More Terrifying
The White Witch is already a fierce and intimidating villain inThe Chronicles of Narnia,and she could easily fall into a similar role in a horror movie.Jadis is incredibly unsettling from her first appearance inThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,and that could be ramped up significantly in a horror adaptation. Jadis' initial encounter with Edmund is eerie and suspenseful at face value, and the enchantment of the Turkish Delight could be made more extreme and disturbing, leaning into the gluttony of the moment.
Given that the White Witch is Lewis' embodiment of evil, it wouldn’t be a huge jump to make her a full-blown horror villain.
Jadis' goals could also be spun for a horror movie, as she wants to corrupt the Pevensie children, reign over Narnia, and obtain immortality — all things that could be exaggerated into even more horrific ends. Given that the White Witch is Lewis' embodiment of evil, it wouldn’t be a huge jump to make her a full-blown horror villain. This is where a horrorNarniaproject could lean into the author’s religious themes as well, using concepts like the devil to make Jadis even more terrifying.
4A Horror Adaption Could Explore Parts Of Narnia That The Books Gloss Over
It’s The Perfect Medium To Address Certain Details
A horror take onThe Chronicles of Narniacould finally explore parts of the story the books and movies gloss over, like how the children handle the transition to and from Narnia. It’s a bit odd that the Pevensies don’t have more issues with growing into adulthood in Narnia, then returning to their child states in the real world. Lewis likely had no interest in exploring the potential fallout of that, as it would have detracted from the messages and stories he wanted to cover. However, horror is the perfect medium to explore this intriguing detail of the original story.
The Chronicles Of Narnia’s Ending Fits The Series But Makes The Books Harder To Adapt
While the ending of the Narnia books makes narrative sense, this doesn’t make it the right tone for the upcoming movies, especially today.
Likewise, a horror adaptation could unpack one of the biggestproblems withNarnia’s ending: Susan Pevensie’s fate. The morality of the books can be black-and-white at times, and Susan’s ending has been criticized as being sexist. She’s left behind after discovering her feminity, and a horror medium could look at this through a more critical eye.Even the other Pevensies' endings could be explored from this angle, as their deaths at the end ofThe Chronicles of Narniaare jarring enough to warrant a second look. They wouldn’t feel so out of place in a horror story.
The Wood Between the Worlds, seen inThe Magician’s Nephew,could also get a deeper look in a horror adaptation. In fact, it could offer a proper explanation for one.
The Wood Between the Worlds, seen inThe Magician’s Nephew,could also get a deeper look in a horror adaptation. In fact, it could offer a proper explanation for one, as this location contains portals to all different worlds.There could be a darker, more horrific version ofNarniathere, and it could coexist with the fantasy world viewers know and love. This would allow two adaptations to coexist with one another: one faithful to Lewis' books and one that puts a riskier spin on them.
3A Horror/Fantasy Blend Would Help Narnia Stand Out From Other Genre Projects
There Aren’t Many Fantasy & Horror Blends Coming Out
Gerwig’sNarniaremake will have plenty of straightforward fantasy projects to compete with, as the genre has exploded since the success ofGame of Thrones.However, there are notably fewer fantasy and horror mash-ups coming out these days.Blending the two genres could work to aNarniaproject’s advantage, setting it apart from other big fantasy releases. After all, whether Gerwig goes for a more mature approach to Lewis' story or aims it at children, it’s going to have hefty competition. FromPercy JacksonandHarry PottertoThe Rings of Power,there’s really no shortage of it.
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By contrast, it’s hard to think of major horror and fantasy projects on the horizon, especially ones that are comparable toThe Chronicles of Narnia.Most of what’s currently out leans more horror than fantasy, thoughmovies likePan’s Labyrinthdemonstrate how effective a proper blending of the genres can be. Attaching that blend to a well-known title likeThe Chronicles of Narniawould undoubtedly generate interest, and it would help it stand out among all the other big fantasy book adaptations.
2The Magicians Proves A Darker, More Mature Take On Narnia Can Work
Other Stories Have Already Shown How Narnia Can Be Twisted
WhileThe Chronicles of Narniahasn’t officially been turned into a darker and more mature version of itself, other titles have explored what such a story could look like.The Magiciansis probably the best example, as Lev Grossman’s books — and the SyFy series based on them — draw heavy inspiration fromNarnia,as well asHarry Potter.However,The Magicianstakes a more grounded and realistic approach to what magic would look like, exploring how it could corrupt and harm its users as much as it can help them.
The Magiciansdoesn’t fully cross the line into horror, but it shows howThe Chronicles of Narniacan be reimagined as a darker and grittier narrative.
The Magiciansdoesn’t fully cross the line into horror, but it shows howThe Chronicles of Narniacan be reimagined as a darker and grittier narrative. And if it works that well for a series loosely inspired byNarnia,it’s hard to see why it wouldn’t land for a more direct adaptation. There would certainly be critics of anything short of a completely faithful take on the books. Butshows likeThe Magiciansprove there’s a demand for more aged-up iterations of classic stories.
1Children’s Stories Are Increasingly Being Warped Into Horror Stories
It’s A Great Time For Such Horror Projects
Turning classic children’s stories and fairy tales into horror movies isn’t anything new, but there’s been a resurgence of it in recent years.Projects likeWinnie the Pooh: Blood and HoneyandThe Mouse Traphighlight a trend, as it seems people are interested in seeing the characters and stories they grew up with turned into something scarier. This could be true forThe Chronicles of Narniatoo, which arguably offers more fitting source material for the medium thanWinnie the PoohandSteamboat Willie.
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But the increased interest in horror reimaginings means it’s a great time to take such a risk withThe Chronicles of Narnia.Of course, with Gerwig’sNarniamovies on the horizon, such a development is unlikely to unfold any time soon. Perhaps one day a studio will see the potential in a horror adaptation of Lewis' series. By then, it’s possible Netflix will have adapted most ofThe Chronicles of Narniabooks, opening the door for more interesting approaches to their stories.
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.
