Record 481.3 Million Trailer Views: Disney Narnia Star Anna Popplewell Reacts to Netflix’s Bold Movie
Popplewell welcomes Gerwig’s take
Speaking at Comic Con Brussels, Anna Popplewell responded to the trailer for Netflix’s The Magician’s Nephew. She said the film appears unlike the Narnia world made for Disney’s adaptations and expected director and writer Greta Gerwig to bring her own perspective.
Popplewell also praised the music and said she was eager to see the movie. She played Susan Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.
Trailer sets a viewership record
The trailer received 481.3 million views during its first seven days. That exceeded the 240.3 million views for Gerwig’s Barbie trailer in the same period, as well as the totals cited for Wonka and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The reaction points to substantial interest in the adaptation, though some online responses have criticized its creative choices. The story’s long-standing popularity has also prompted comparisons with the earlier Disney films.
A prequel with major changes
The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth book in C.S. Lewis’s series, but its events come first in Narnia’s internal chronology. Young Digory Kirke, played by David McKenna, and Polly Plummer, played by Beatrice Campbell, travel through portals and encounter Jadis in Charn before witnessing Narnia’s creation.
The film shifts the setting to 1950s Britain from the early 1900s and uses psychedelic visuals. Its trailer also features Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” the first time the song has been licensed for use on screen. Meryl Streep voices Aslan, while Daniel Craig plays Digory’s uncle, Andrew Ketterley.
Theater and streaming dates
Netflix’s film is set for a wide theatrical release beginning February 12, including standard and IMAX venues. It is scheduled to remain in theaters for nearly two months before its streaming debut on April 2.
The release offers audiences a chance to encounter Gerwig’s version in cinemas before it arrives on Netflix. Popplewell’s response framed the new approach as different from the Disney films, without judging one version as superior.
Key points
- Anna Popplewell praised Greta Gerwig’s distinct approach to Narnia.
- The trailer drew 481.3 million views in its first seven days.
- The movie features “Stairway to Heaven” and a 1950s Britain setting.
- The film opens in theaters February 12 and streams April 2.