Netflix Developing Multiple Chronicles Of Narnia TV Series And Films

Netflix has its sights set on Narnia. 

On Wednesday, October 3, the streamer announced plans to develop multiple television series and films based on C.S. Lewis' seven-book fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. 

Variety confirmed the news, detailing that Netflix is crafting these upcoming projects as part of its recently closed pact with The C.S. Lewis Company. Before the deal was struck, screen rights to Lewis' works were spread amongst different holders. Now, they're all at home with the same company — which just so happens to be the biggest streaming service in the world. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?

At the time of the announcement, Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos issued a statement expressing excitement about the deal with The C.S. Lewis Company and about the opportunity to revive the Chronicles of Narnia series. 

"C.S. Lewis' beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world," said Sarandos. "Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we're thrilled to be their home for years to come."

Lewis' stepson Douglas Gresham added (via Deadline) that Netflix is the perfect home for The Chronicles of Narnia: "It is wonderful to know that folks from all over are looking forward to seeing more of Narnia, and that the advances in production and distribution technology have made it possible for us to make Narnian adventures come to life all over the world. Netflix seems to be the very best medium with which to achieve this aim, and I am looking forward to working with them towards this goal."

Netflix didn't reveal any details about what the new Chronicles of Narnia series and movies will entail, who might direct and direct the adaptations, or how many of each fans can expect to add to their streaming queue in the future. Still, the possibilities are countless. The streamer could make one movie for each of Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series installments – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; and The Last Battle — or turn a select few into features and translate the others into miniseries. Given how expansive the world of Narnia is, Netflix could even zero in on a single location or storyline within the fantasy realm that hasn't yet made the jump from page to screen. 

In the past, Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media adapted The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Capsian: The Return to Narnia for the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the 2008 movie The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Come 2010, Disney had dropped out of the franchise and 20th Century Fox stepped in, teaming with Walden Media for the threequel The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 

As of 2017, a fourth film based on The Silver Chair was in development with Joe Johnston attached as director and Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown in talks for the lead role. It seems that project may be dead now that Netflix holds the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia. 

Check back with Looper for more details on Netflix's Chronicles of Narnia projects as they become available.