In the long run, Greta Gerwig will get her theatrical launch. After months of hypothesis, Narnia can be launched on IMAX screens earlier than it streams on Netflix.
Per Matt Belloni of Puck, Narnia will air on almost 1,000 screens worldwide on Thanksgiving Day 2026. IMAX has assured Narnia will play for a minimum of two weeks. Nonetheless, that would enhance to 3 if demand is excessive. After its IMAX run, Narnia will stream globally on Netflix round Christmas Day.
Belloni’s report states Narnia may display screen in non-IMAX codecs, although that’s unconfirmed. Extra importantly, Netflix will market Narnia like a typical IMAX launch and model it as a Netflix and IMAX film from the outset.
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Gerwig’s deal could possibly be a tipping level for Netflix, which has persistently prioritized streaming over the theatrical expertise. Netflix provides its status performs restricted theatrical releases to qualify for the Oscars and different awards exhibits. The one different instance that resembles Gerwig’s deal is Glass Onion: A Knives Out Thriller. Rian Johnson’s sequel acquired a one-week restricted theatrical launch through the 2022 Thanksgiving vacation earlier than its December debut on Netflix.
Gerwig is coming off the overwhelming success of Barbie, which seemingly factored into Netflix’s resolution to permit an IMAX launch. Barbie grew to become the highest-grossing movie of 2023 with over $1.44 billion worldwide.
In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books, aspiring to develop motion pictures and TV exhibits. Netflix enlisted Gerwig to develop Narnia in 2020. In 2023, The New Yorker reported that Gerwig had been employed to write down and direct two Narnia motion pictures for Netflix.
