Greta Gerwig Opens First "Narnia" Origin Story Trailer with "Stairway To Heaven"

A movie about a lion singing a world into existence, paired with the longest song in rock history about a "stairway to heaven" — that combination is a statement in itself. Greta Gerwig's "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" has released its first trailer, set to Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway To Heaven." And getting the song cleared for the film was something Gerwig negotiated herself.

Speaking at a press event earlier this week, she revealed that she met with Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Jimmy Page specifically to secure the rights to the song. "I was so moved that they let me use it," she said, connecting the "spiritual searching, enlightenment, and the possibility of losing one's way" in the lyrics of "Stairway To Heaven" to the themes of "The Magician's Nephew." She also noted that both musicians "share a love of C.S. Lewis" — details of the licensing negotiation were first reported by Billboard.

"The Magician's Nephew," originally published in 1955, is the sixth of C.S. Lewis's seven "Chronicles of Narnia" novels, though its story chronologically precedes "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," depicting the very origins of the world of Narnia. This marks the first time the novel has been adapted for the big screen.

In a statement, Gerwig recalled her feelings upon first reading the book: "I first read 'The Magician's Nephew' as a child, and I fell in love with the idea — so gloriously improbable and yet so completely wonderful — of a cosmic lion singing Narnia into being." She said that as a child she had no idea she would grow up to make films, but the idea of "building a universe through music" stayed with her all along, calling this directing opportunity "the honor of a lifetime." She also mentioned that "The Chronicles of Narnia" made her believe in magic and hidden worlds, in the idea that any place could be enchanted, and that "an ordinary person like me" could be swept up into an epic adventure.

The cast includes Emma Mackey as the White Witch and Daniel Craig as the Magician, with Meryl Streep voicing the lion Aslan. David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, and Carey Mulligan also round out the ensemble.

"Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" is slated to hit theaters on February 12, 2027, before landing on Netflix on April 2 of the same year.