IMAX held its first Investors Day presentation in New York, where CEO Rich Gelfond shared new details about Netflix and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, scheduled for release next November. His most revealing comments centred on the film’s musical direction.
According to Gelfond, Gerwig’s Narnia will feature a contemporary, rock-influenced sound, with artists like Pink Floyd and The Doors cited as examples of the tone fans can expect. The film’s score is being composed by music producer Mark Ronson, who recently worked on Barbie. Producer Amy Pascal made a similar remark in 2024, when she infamously described the project as “all about rock and roll.”
This is a real blockbuster movie that’s being made for [IMAX and Netflix] and you know, I guess I do have to talk a little about why I’m so excited about it. This is not your mother’s or your grandmother‘s Narnia. The music in it is unbelievably contemporary music, which IMAX fans like. I’m not gonna say specifically, but things like Pink Floyd and The Doors. You know that kind of music which people go to see in IMAX.”
Gelfond also highlighted the scale of the production. Attendees at the in-person event were shown a brief clip from Greta Gerwig, and he described visiting the enormous Cardington Studios set, where the project is being shot across multiple stages and locations.
The movie itself is being filmed at the largest sound stage in Europe. I went on the set where there were hundreds of people and multiple green screens and it’s filmed at multiple locations. You’re gonna see a clip in a second and if you can’t see how passionate Greta is about it, then you’ll have to wait to see the movie to see how awesome it is.”
Gelfond voiced strong confidence in the project overall, saying that Gerwig’s Narnia film — and IMAX’s partnership with Netflix — is “really going to change the world” and “create a cultural event.”
So this is one where, […] my team has to hold me back. Because I think, as I said before, that it’s really going to change the world. And I know that sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but Greta is making this movie for IMAX, and then fully understands that when word gets out about what this movie is, it’s going to create a cultural event.”
Gelfond also reiterated that The Magician’s Nephew will premiere exclusively in IMAX theatres, a decision he credited directly to Gerwig. The 28-day IMAX-only release window has drawn backlash from rival studios and exhibitors due to Netflix’s reluctance to adopt traditional theatrical runs.
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