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Emma Mackey, who played one of the many varied versions of the titular hero of “Barbie”, is jumping into the role of the bad guy soon. The British actress has been cast as Jadis, the White Witch of “The Chronicles of Narnia”, in the Netflix-backed adaptations of C.S. Lewis’s novels, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Among other roles, Mackey is known for her time in “Barbie”, her role as Maeve Wiley in the Netflix dramedy “Sex Education,” and as the eponymous novelist Emily Bronte in “Emily”.
(center) MARGOT ROBBIE as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “BARBIE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (PRESS KIT)
(center) MARGOT ROBBIE as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “BARBIE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (PRESS KIT)
© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Barbie” helmer Greta Gerwig is writing and directing the film, which is reportedly based on the sixth “Narnia” novel, 1955’s “The Magician’s Nephew”. In the novel, the young Digory and Polly are transported to the “Wood Between the Worlds” from which they journey to different worlds, including Charn. There Digory and Polly unintentionally awaken the White Witch Jadis and witness the birth of Narnia. The events are set 1000 years before those of the first book of the series, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
Rumors or who may or may not take the coveted role of White Witch have been swirling for a while, with Charlie XCX reported as the frontrunner at one point. THR reports that the final choice was between Mackey and Margaret Qualley of “The Substance”.
There have not been many firm casting announcements yet for “The Magician’s Nephew”. Mackey’s only confirmed co-star so far is Meryl Streep who will be playing Aslan, the King of Kings, and the titular lion of the first novel.
In 2005’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, the White Witch was played by Tilda Swinton while Aslan was voiced by Liam Neeson. That film mad $745 million at the global box office though neither of its sequels made quite as much. In 2008 “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” took home $419.6 million, and in 2010 “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” made $415.7 million.
Netflix will be doing something it has not done often for “The Magician’s Nephew”, reportedly at Gerwig’s insistence: the film will enjoy a two week IMAX run in theaters before its streaming premiere in late 2026.
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