Emma Mackey Confirms Greta Gerwig Narnia Role Amid White Witch Casting Reports

Emma Mackey has finally broken her silence on one of the most eagerly anticipated fantasy adaptations of recent years. For months, reports had linked the Barbie actor to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia film, but Netflix and the creative team had kept quiet. That changed when Mackey sat down with MovieWeb and gave a rare, if deliberately guarded, update about her involvement. She offered no plot details and no character breakdown, yet her words made it clear that she has been spending time on set and working closely with Gerwig. ‘Well, there’s zilch I can tell you about it other than it’s a wonderful, wonderful process so far, and it’s an adventure. And Greta is someone that I have immense respect for, and who’s a friend and a life force. And I’m just very fortunate to be on one of her sets. Truly,’ Mackey said.

For devoted readers of C.S. Lewis, the news carries particular weight. Rather than adapting The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Gerwig’s film is tackling The Magician’s Nephew. That book was the sixth Narnia story to be published, but it is chronologically the first in the series. It follows young Digory Kirke and his neighbor Polly Plummer as they stumble into magical pools in the Wood Between the Worlds, witness the creation of Narnia itself, and encounter a dangerous queen named Jadis from the dying world of Charn. Because the story explores the very origins of Narnia, it offers Gerwig an opportunity to build a mythic, strange, and emotionally rich version of Lewis’s world rather than simply repeating a familiar tale.

Mackey is widely reported to be playing Jadis, the White Witch. If true, she would be stepping into a role previously made famous on screen by Tilda Swinton in Disney’s 2005 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. However, because The Magician’s Nephew takes place earlier in the Narnia timeline, Mackey would likely portray a younger version of the character. That distinction could allow the actor to explore Jadis before she becomes the frozen ruler of Narnia, showing her power, desperation, and terrifying charm in a different light. For Mackey, the role also marks a reunion with Gerwig after their previous collaboration on Barbie, where Mackey played Physicist Barbie.

This second collaboration places Mackey in a select group of actors who have worked with Gerwig multiple times. Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet both appeared in Lady Bird and Little Women, and now Mackey is following a similar path by joining Gerwig on another ambitious literary project. The pattern suggests that Gerwig values familiar collaborators who can match her tonal range, blending sincerity, wit, and emotional depth. 🎬

Although Netflix has not made a formal cast announcement, several key names have been reported. The table below gathers the most widely discussed casting details.

Denise Gough, best known for playing Dedra Meero in Andor, has shared that she is playing ‘someone mean’ in the film, though her exact character remains under wraps. That teasing description has fueled speculation that she could be connected to Jadis or another villainous presence from the early days of Narnia. Carey Mulligan, meanwhile, is said to be playing Digory’s mother, Mabel Kirke, a role that brings a deeply human emotional thread to a story filled with cosmic invention and moral choice. 📖

The release strategy for the film is also unusual. Even though this is a Netflix production, the movie is scheduled to open in theaters on November 26, 2026, for a four-week theatrical run before it begins streaming on December 25. Netflix has traditionally kept many of its films exclusive to its platform or given them only a limited theatrical window, so this represents a significant shift in strategy. It signals confidence in Gerwig’s vision and an understanding that a large-scale fantasy epic benefits from the big-screen experience. ❄️

With Mackey now officially speaking about her involvement, the quiet secrecy around the project is beginning to lift. Fans can expect a Narnia story that reaches back to the beginning, explores the creation of a beloved world, and introduces a White Witch who may feel younger, wilder, and more unpredictable than the version audiences remember. For Mackey, it is another adventure with a director she trusts, and for viewers, it is a reason to return to the wardrobe in an entirely new way. 🦁