Hollywood’s got franchise fever—every studio is out here hunting for the next pop culture goldmine, even if it means milking five minutes of book-club fame into a bloated universe. But while most adaptations feel like fanfiction written during a coffee break, Greta Gerwig is doing things very differently. Fresh off turning Barbie into a cinematic masterpiece, she is diving headfirst into Narnia, with Netflix in tow. There is buzz, some backstage delays, and a tug-of-war between vision and streaming vibes. However, a recent casting choice of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia has been turning heads.

Emma Mackey is trading Barbie glam for frosty villainy—she is officially the White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Narnia reboot, as revealed by The Hollywood Reporter. She is going from Malibu to magical mayhem, playing Jadis, the icy queen who traps Narnia in an eternal winter. Mackey will be sharing screen space with Daniel Craig (as Digory’s uncle, not James Bond—everyone relax), and the one and only Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan. Gerwig is building a fantasy dream team, and this winter is about to slay.

Narnia is hitting IMAX for a two-week epic run before landing on Netflix just in time for Christmas 2026. Netflix first teased its grand wardrobe-sized plans back in 2018. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos called it a timeless tale that generations have loved in a press release, and now the streaming giant is ready to be Narnia’s forever home. As if the stakes were not already high enough the casting of Emma Mackey has broken the glass cieling.

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Greta Gerwig’s casting has sparked a full-blown internet frenzy—Narnia lovers and Barbie stans are linking arms, screaming in magical unison over this icy-perfect casting twist.

After years of delivering standout performances, Emma Mackey’s casting in Narnia has fans buzzing with excitement. Before Mackey was chosen as the White Witch, Margaret Qualley and Charli XCX were also in the running for the role, but many fans are relieved it did not work out in their favor. The actress is already being hailed for the depth she will bring to the iconic villain, and social media is flooded with support as fans eagerly anticipate her spellbinding performance.

The entire internet seems to have rallied behind Emma Mackey’s casting as the White Witch, with fans united in support, especially after considering the other potential choices.

 With Mackey bringing her signature brilliance to the role, fans are already predicting the movie will be a massive hit. Netflix’s CEO has teased special plans for the film, fueling even more hype. For now, fans are celebrating Mackey’s villainous transformation, confident that this Narnia will be nothing short of a blockbuster.

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What do you think of Emma Mackey as the White Witch in Narnia? Let us know in the comments below!