Emma Mackey’s first look as Jadis in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew has sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans divided over the bold new direction for one of fantasy’s most recognizable characters. Empire Magazine recently unveiled Mackey’s costume for the upcoming Narnia reboot. The 30-year-old actor will portray Jadis, the powerful character who eventually becomes the White Witch.
Mackey appeared enthusiastic about taking on the role, describing Jadis as a larger-than-life presence. “In the script she’s described as ‘all chaos and bad plans.’ She’s this larger-than-life creature,” the Barbie actor told Empire Magazine.
The reveal, however, quickly became a topic of debate among fans. Some viewers were taken aback by the character’s glam-rock-inspired appearance, with several social media users expressing concern that Gerwig’s interpretation could move too far away from the visual identity associated with the original Narnia films.
Not everyone reacted negatively, though. Some fans praised Mackey’s striking appearance and Gerwig’s willingness to take the franchise in a different visual direction.
While Mackey will portray Jadis, she is just one part of an ensemble cast filled with major Hollywood names. Meryl Streep is set to voice Aslan, the great lion at the center of C.S. Lewis’ world. The cast also includes Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Denise Gough, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, David McKenna, and Beatrice Campbell.
Gerwig has previously explained her decision to cast Streep as Aslan, saying she wanted an actor who could bring gravitas and emotional depth to the character while also conveying joy and wonder.
“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” Gerwig told Empire. “Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.”
The filmmaker also emphasized that she wanted someone older than 70 who could embody wisdom and experience while retaining a sense of childlike wonder. For Gerwig, Streep’s celebrated acting career made her a natural fit for the role.
Gerwig is directing Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and is also serving as a producer. Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber are among the film’s producers. Gresham will additionally serve as an executive producer alongside Melvin Adams and Patricia Whitcher, while Christina Crais is attached as a co-producer.
With the first glimpse of Mackey’s Jadis already generating such contrasting reactions, Gerwig’s Narnia reboot is shaping up to offer a distinctly different visual interpretation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy world.
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