Greta Gerwig, the acclaimed director behind Barbie, appears to be facing a creative roadblock. Fresh off the massive success of Barbie, which catapulted her to the upper echelons of Hollywood, Gerwig is reportedly at odds with Netflix over her next project—a series of films based on C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books. The sticking point? A lack of theatrical release.
Gerwig’s rise to the top last year was nothing short of meteoric. Before Barbie, she was known for critically adored indie gems like Lady Bird and Little Women. But the record-shattering commercial success of Barbie gave her the kind of leverage most directors dream about—the ability to choose any project she wanted. That freedom, though, hasn’t exactly panned out.
Turns out, Gerwig had already committed to adapting two Narnia films for Netflix before the Barbie pink tide took over pop culture. Reports from Puck indicate that Gerwig has quietly approached Netflix about giving these Narnia films a theatrical release (Puck). So rather than diving into a passion project of her choosing, Gerwig’s been elbow-deep in an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ seven-book fantasy series. And it hasn’t been a smooth ride. In fact, it’s been tough.
For a director riding high on the kind of wave Barbie generated, it’s understandable that she’d want her work on the big screen. Yet Netflix—sticking to its business model—has made it clear that the films will be released exclusively on its platform. For Gerwig, who’s at the height of her career, the idea of spending the next several years on films that won’t see a theatrical release must feel like a missed opportunity.
She’s reportedly had several “friendly requests” with Scott Stuber, head of Netflix’s film division, about the matter. According to Matt Belloni of Puck (Puck), Gerwig is described as being far from the type to make demands—there’s no shouting match here—but it’s evident she’s unhappy with what Netflix is offering. With the Narnia books being expansive, filled with scope and grandeur, they naturally seem suited for the cinema’s scale—something Netflix’s current model doesn’t align with.
Adding fuel to the fire, Empire City’s report hints that Gerwig might actually want out of the Narnia project altogether. But Netflix, understandably, isn’t likely to let that happen easily. After all, they’ve got one of Hollywood’s most in-demand directors committed for the foreseeable future, and letting her go would mean a significant loss.
Whether this creative standoff intensifies remains to be seen. If both sides dig in, the battle could get messier. For now, Gerwig seems to be navigating the corporate labyrinth, and where this ends is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned.
