Greta Gerwig’sThe Chronicles of Narniacan improve upon an issue with the Pevensie children in the later books. Netflix’s upcoming adaptations haveGerwig directing and writing two Narnia filmsso far, but all the installments in C.S. Lewis' beloved fantasy series may ultimately be adapted if the first two prove to be a success. Prior to Netflix acquiring the rights, Disney adaptedThe Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,Prince Caspian, andThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
The four Pevensie children–Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy–are at the heart ofThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobeas they discover the magical land of Narnia, help save it, and become the realm’s kings and queens. All four Pevensies return to Narnia inPrince Caspian, while only Edmund and Lucy return inThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader, along with their cousin, Eustace Scrubb. The Pevensies are a significant reason whyThe Chronicles of Narniabookscontinue to endure, butNetflix can make the siblings' journey even better.
I Hope Netflix’s Narnia Reboot Explores 1 Fascinating Magician’s Nephew Detail In More Depth
Netflix is rebooting The Chronicles of Narnia, and I hope Greta Gerwig and the rest of the creative team explore a fascinating element in the books.
Netflix’s Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Can Finally Fix The Later Books' Pevensie Problem
They Are Missed In The Later Books
Despite having prominent roles inThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,Prince Caspian, andThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader,the Pevensies are mostly absent from the books that were published later in the series. AfterPrince Caspian,Peter and Susan do not return to Narniabecause Aslan tells them that they are"getting too old,“and Edmund and Lucy are told the same after the events ofThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all return to Narnia by the end of the series, but they are no longer a focal point of the story.
Since she is no longer considered"a friend of Narnia,“Susan does not get to return to the magical realm with her siblings inThe Last Battle.
The Pevensies' absence is one of the reasons why the later books are generally considered to not be as strong as the earlier installments. The later books focus more on other characters, and while the Pevensies' cousin Eustace is one of them,it is not the same as having one of the original Pevensies as a main character. Without the Pevensies at the forefront ofThe Chronicles of Narnia, part of what makes the earlier books special is undeniably missing.
How Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot Can Solve The Pevensies' Absence
There Are Several Ways To Solve These Problems
If Netflix makes more than twoChronicles of Narniamovies, with Gerwig ideally continuing to be involved, the reboot could better address the Pevensies' absence.Eustace and the other prominent characters in the later books need to be made more compelling, so the absence ofthe Pevensie siblingsis not as noticeable. For the later published stories that the Pevensies are in, their roles should be expanded on from the source material, which could make their return inThe Last Battleeven more impactful.
Ensuring the Pevensies have a presence in all of Netflix’sThe Chronicles of Narniafilms, whether that presence is prominent or subtle, can go a long way in fixing the issue the books encountered.
IfThe Magician’s Nephewis the first story to be adapted,the Pevensies can be foreshadowed through clever Easter eggsand references that will pay off later in the series, as they cannot appear in this prequel since they have not been born yet. Ensuring the Pevensies have a presence in all of Netflix’sThe Chronicles of Narniafilms, whether that presence is prominent or subtle, can go a long way in fixing the issue the books encountered. It is one of many ways that the developing adaptations have ample potential and can even enhance Lewis' timeless novels.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Cast
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is a fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson. It follows the story of four siblings who discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. They join forces with Aslan, the majestic lion, to battle against the evil White Witch. The film features Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell in the leading roles.
