Chronicles of Narnia being kept mostly under wraps, many have speculated that Netflix and Gerwig will make major changes in order to avoid the mistakes the latter two films, Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, made. That being said, the first film also had its issues, especially when it came to comparing it to the source material.

When reading the Chronicles of Narnia books, audiences will find that many creative liberties were taken in the onscreen adaptations, even in the first movie. While this is a normal part of the adaptation process, in the case of Chronicles of Narnia, those changes turned the story into something it was not, with that disconnect continuing to grow in each film. Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movies must avoid repeating these same mistakes the original trilogy did, especially in regards to tone.

Greta Gerwig's Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Shouldn't Change The Tone Of The Books

The Original C.S. Lewis Books Had A More Hopeful Tone

Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movies should keep the hopeful tone from the books rather than shifting it like the original film series did. In the novel series, the tone of the books stays largely consistent, unlike other fantasy narratives. Each story has a strongly hopeful tone despite also having several darker moments, as many times the characters are either visiting Narnia for the first time or discovering new parts of the land. The tone also adds to the messages of the books, which largely focus on themes of self-empowerment, belief, and morality.

At the time of writing, Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia is set to be released on Netflix in late 2025.

The films, by contrast, attempt to make the story closer to an epic fantasy than a coming-of-age narrative, damaging the adaptation's connection to the books. Each movie is filled with fights, mysteries, and danger, making the story thrilling at the cost of its original identity. By adding in more action and darker elements to make Narnia more dangerous, the films strayed away from the source material's focus on imparting a message, something Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movies must fix. That tone shift makes the films something they, ultimately, are not, which cost those initial adaptations storywise.

Disney's Narnia Movies Tried Too Hard To Be Something The Books Weren't

Those Narnia Movies Borrowed Elements From Other Fantasy Staples

Disney's Chronicles of Narnia movies borrow many elements and tropes from other fantasy stories, turning the films into something the books are not. As mentioned, the darker elements of the original film trilogy make it closer to an epic fantasy. The story is similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings where the protagonists find both friends and foes during an epic adventure to stop some sort of dictator. However, the Chronicles of Narnia books are more aligned with a classic fairytale, making this tone shift off-putting for audiences who read the Lewis novels.

Though the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series did have some aspects of Arthurian legend, the series as a whole is largely told in of a fairytale. A few of those elements are still in the films, such as the White Witch, but the fairytale core is still ignored. An epic fantasy focuses on the adventure and worldbuilding whereas a fairytale focuses on the lesson being learned. Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia could work that fairytale tone back into the story while still modernizing it, balancing the expectations of two different audiences.

How Greta Gerwig's Netflix Reboot Can Strike The Right Balance

Gerwig's Reboot Can Keep The Original Tone While Updating The Character Stories

In order to strike the right balance, Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia reboot will need to bring back the original tone but can also update the stories of some characters who got little focus through that tone. In restoring the tone from Lewis's books, the Netflix reboot would be able to play more into fairytale tropes, keeping audiences engaged. Many who grew up with the films will be expecting something closer to those, so adding these new elements would not only make the remake more faithful to the source but keep audiences on their toes as new stories emerge.

Susan Pevensie's story in the Narnia remake, for example, could take from more modern fairytale adaptations that focus on themes of feminism and independence, fixing her story several years later.

In the same vein, updating some of the stories from the original books using that tone could keep the story fresh while still sticking to the source material. Susan Pevensie's story in the Narnia remake, for example, could take from more modern fairytale adaptations that focus on themes of feminism and independence, fixing her story several years later. This balance would allow Gerwig's The Chronicles Of Narnia to honor the books and restore their identity while still doing one of the main functions of an adaptation: building on and improving the story.