Netflix will develop new TV series and film projects based on C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, the streaming platform announced Wednesday.
Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company signed a multi-year deal, marking the first time one company has held the rights to all seven books. All the projects developed through this deal will be produced by Netflix productions and Mark Gordon of Entertainment One, alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for the series, as well as producers for the films.
The “Narnia” books, a series of seven fantasy novels published between 1950 and 1956, have sold over 100 million copies and have been translated into more than 47 languages.
Set in the fictional realm of Narnia, the stories have been adapted into TV, stage and film projects several times, including Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and Fox’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.”
“C.S. Lewis’ beloved ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix. “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.”
“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,” said Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis. “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.”