Nothing in Hollywood ever goes smoothly—especially when it comes to a reboot of a beloved classic like Narnia. And just when you thought Charli XCX would rule the frosty lands of Jadis, the White Witch, Hollywood pulled a fast one. Boom. New queen.
Last month, Deadline sent fans into a frenzy by revealing that pop powerhouse Charli XCX was deep in talks to portray Jadis in Greta Gerwig's reimagined Narnia franchise. Fresh off the explosive success of Barbie, Gerwig seemed poised to reinvent The Chronicles of Narnia with an unexpected, edgy cast. At the time, Charli XCX joining the lineup was billed as a daring, potentially game-changing move—a pop icon stepping into the icy stilettos of C.S. Lewis' most iconic villainess.
But the winds shifted fast.
According to a fresh update from The InSneider, Charli's audition didn't just falter—it bombed. Something went south enough to set off alarm bells among the film's top brass. Although the specifics are under tight wraps (classic Hollywood secrecy), it's clear that the performance didn't hit the nerve Gerwig and Netflix were hoping for.
Cue a rapid-fire search for a replacement. Enter Emma Mackey, best known for her sharp wit and magnetic screen presence in Netflix's Sex Education. After a brief, tense audition sprint that also included Margaret Qualley, it's now officially confirmed: Mackey will reign supreme as Jadis the White Witch.
Historical Echo:
In the past decade, Hollywood's recasting drama has had moments that felt eerily similar. Think about how Fifty Shades of Grey initially cast Charlie Hunnam—only to replace him with Jamie Dornan weeks before filming. Or how The Hobbit saw a last-minute Bilbo Baggins switch from Stuart Townsend to Martin Freeman. These cases often symbolize the high stakes behind blockbuster casting. For Narnia, bringing the right energy to Jadis is vital. After all, she's not just a villain—she's the very embodiment of temptation and tyranny.
And Mackey? She brings the perfect cocktail of intensity, charisma, and chilly allure that Jadis demands.
Production and Budget Rumblings:
“Narnia: The Magician's Nephew” is steamrolling toward production this July, with an eye-popping $200M+ budget. Mark your calendars: the epic saga is slated for a November 2026 IMAX release. That timeline is aggressive, especially considering Netflix's broader plan to churn out eight Narnia films whether or not Gerwig sticks around for the full ride.
Mackey joins a headline-grabbing cast that also includes Daniel Craig as Uncle Digory Kirke and, perhaps most controversially, Meryl Streep as Aslan the Great. Yes—you heard that right. Meryl Streep as the majestic, roaring lion. Hollywood is clearly swinging for the fences.
Note:
We had previously reported Charli XCX's casting in our earlier coverage: Charli XCX Cast as The White Witch in Greta Gerwig's ‘Narnia': A Bold New Chapter for the Pop Icon. This new twist just underscores how quickly the winds of fate can change in Tinseltown.
Charli XCX's Next Moves:
Charli isn't exactly twiddling her thumbs. She's already wrapped up filming four new movies: I Want Your Sex (Greg Araki), The Gallerist (Cathy Yan), Sacrifice (Romain Gavras), and Faces of Death (currently stuck in distribution limbo). Acting is clearly still in her future—this was just a stumble, not a shutdown.
Emma Mackey's ascension as the White Witch brings a fresh chill to the Narnia universe—and if the early buzz is anything to go by, she's about to redefine what villainy looks like on screen. Would you follow her into a frozen world where every breath you take could betray you? Sound off in the comments.
