Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Adaptation Casts White Witch Role

Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptation has cast the White Witch role.

Gerwig is currently working on Narnia for Netflix. The first movie in what is expected to be a new franchise will be released in IMAX in Thanksgiving 2026 before then coming to the streaming platform in December.

Who has been cast as the White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia?

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Emma Mackey has been cast in the White Witch role in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia.

Mackey is best known for playing Maeve Wiley in Netflix’s Sex Education television show. Her filmography includes 2020’s The Winter Lake, 2021’s Eiffel, 2022’s Death on the Nile, and 2022’s Emily.

Additionally, Mackey had a supporting role in Gerwig’s last movie, Barbie, which was released in 2023. She’ll soon be seen acting alongside Vicky Krieps and Fiona Shaw in a drama movie titled Hot Milk, which premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival this past February. She has also been cast in J.J. Abrams’ new movie, which co-stars Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Gerwig’s first Narnia movie is rumored to be an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, which is technically the sixth novel in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, though it takes place before The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Popstar Charli XCX was previously believed to be considered for the White Witch role, “but that proved to be premature,” The Hollywood Reporter’s article notes. “And while many actresses vied for the part, it came down to Mackey and The Substance star Margaret Qualley. Netflix declined to comment on the casting.”

Meryl Streep is still believed to be in talks to play Aslan in the film, which is written and directed by Gerwig. Before Barbie, Gerwig also directed 2017’s Lady Bird and 2019’s Little Women.