Greta Gerwig's adaptation of book brings something unique to the table, and the experiences of the Pevensie children are a large part of this. The first book sees the four siblings enter Narnia for the first time, help release the realm from the terror of the White Witch, and take their place as kings and queens. Their lineage remains important throughout the series.
The siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, all represent different facets of strength and bravery in the story. Though Edmund is often singled out because he mistakenly trusts the White Witch, it's Susan who deserves extra attention in the next iteration of the narrative. Netflix's Narnia reboot must expand on stories that both the original movies and novels never did, and Susan cannot be overlooked again. Gerwig is known for bringing great female-driven stories to life in her work, and she must imbue this talent into Narnia.
Greta Gerwig's Chronicles Of Narnia Remake Can Finally Do Right By Susan Pevensie
Susan deserves the great ending that her siblings receive
Out of all the Pevensie siblings, Susan is often forgotten about and less revered than her brothers and sister. Since she's older than Edmund and Lucy, she doesn't get to return to Narnia in the later books, but because Peter's a boy, he gets more glory and attention from Aslan. This leaves Susan in an awkward middle ground that's made worse as the novels progress. Part of this is because the books were written in the 1950s, so it makes sense that some aspects are dated. However, Gerwig has the opportunity to amend this.
movies are what the fantasy genre needs after many years of darker and more graphic additions to the genre. She can focus on giving Susan a better character arc and bringing in more contemporary elements that will make the story connect better with modern audiences. Additionally, the lighter tone that Narnia is known for is a good balance between fantasy stories that aren't suitable for younger viewers and movies that are too skewered toward children to interest adults.
7 Problems With The Chronicles Of Narnia That Greta Gerwig's Movies Must Fix
Greta Gerwig is adapting The Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix. The classic book series has some discrepancies the movies will have to address.
How The Chronicles Of Narnia Books Failed Susan's Character
Susan's ending is one of the most disappointing parts of the Narnia books.
In The Last Battle, the final book in the series, Aslan doesn't bring Susan to the true Narnia, which can be interpreted as heaven. It states that Susan grew up and isn't interested in Narnia and comments on the frivolity of her interest in traditionally feminine things like "nylons" and "lipstick." While Lewis does a good job giving Susan and Lucy plenty of strength and courage throughout the series, this was a failing on the author's part and is blatantly sexist. At its best, this aspect of the series is about how adults lose their imagination as they age.
At its worst, Susan being left behind could be read as a punishment for her discovering her sexuality and becoming a woman.
At its worst, Susan being left behind could be read as a punishment for her discovering her sexuality and becoming a woman. This was a terrible message, even by the 1950s' standards, and isn't something that can be repeated in the 21st century. Before the final book, Susan's character could undergo more development in general, and the romance between her and Prince Caspian in the movie is something that should be omitted. Additionally, even though Peter also grows up and focuses on adulthood, he doesn't suffer the same fate as Susan.
A Movie Adaptation Of The Last Battle Can Bring Susan Justice, 68 Years Later
Though this movie hasn't been confirmed yet, it would be great for Susan
While there is book Gerwig's movies can skip over, The Last Battle isn't one of them. The Last Battle is an all-important conclusion and sees the Pevensies return to Narnia after a long time away. Beginning and ending with the Pevensies is vital for the full-circle narrative of the books to land. Though only two movies have been green-light for Gerwig's series so far, they have the potential to be just as successful as long-running fantasy franchises like Harry Potter. This would ensure that The Last Battle is adapted.
If audiences and critics respond well to Gerwig's version of The Chronicles of Narnia, the director has the opportunity to fix Lewis' mistake. Gerwig can make Susan into the great character she always was while staying true to the morals and themes of the story, which would have allowed Susan into true Narnia. Since many fans of the movies haven't read all the books, it won't be too jarring for this change to be made. Gerwig will likely make many of these smaller changes while maintaining the integrity of the original material.
- Created by
- C.S. Lewis
- First TV Show
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- Cast
- Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, Simon Pegg
- TV Show(s)
- The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
