Greta Gerwig’s ‘Big-Screen Only’ Stance May Have Dealt a Critical Blow to the ‘Barbie’ TV Show

Barbie director Greta Gerwig is quite excited about the release of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, but some of her comments may have landed a fan-loved project in trouble.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release, the director stated that she only knows how to make movies for theaters, after having worked on Lady Bird, Little Women, and Barbie. Naturally, when she met Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, the latter shared her excitement for theater screens.

Gerwig recalled Sarandos told her to “make the movie for the biggest screen you can imagine”. However, this might prove to be a problem for the Barbie TV show that has been long requested by fans after the success of Barbie.

I love watching movies in the theater. I can’t wait to come back. And then watch this at home.

However, based on the director’s comments about only working on movies with a theatrical release, it seems that the alleged Barbie TV show might not have Gerwig as a director.

Greta Gerwig Is Ready For Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew‘s Release

Greta Gerwig is all set for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | Credits: The C.S. Lewis Company

Netflix is the official distributor for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and ahead of Greta Gerwig attached to the project, she learned that Netflix had acquired the rights to the adaptation.

She met Ted Sarandos in a cocktail party and revealed her excitement about the upcoming adaptation. Gerwig staetd to Sarandos why The Magician’s Nephew should be the first film. 20 minutes later, Sarandos asked her if she wanted to write the film.

Gushing about the upcoming release of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Gerwig shared that she wrote and read C.S. Lewis’ novels through her vision. She also pulled the author’s best and most visually evocative quotes and kept those in mind while she was working on the script.

Naturally, the Barbie director is quite excited to see how the movie fares in theaters. Although she might not be attached to the alleged Barbie TV show that could potentially releaes, there are several reasons why Gerwig should remain a theatre-exclusive director like Christopher Nolan.

Why Greta Gerwig Should Remain A Theatre Exclusive Director

Greta Gerwig | Credits: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Greta Gerwig has built a career making movies with storytelling that leans on shared emotions. Barbie is the clearest case for the director till now. Audiences dressed in pink, turned up in groups, and treated screenings as social occasions.

Her movies are appreciated when seen on a bigger screen due to the sheer scale of her films. Her work often plays with theatrical artifacts with painted backdrops to deliberately stage set pieces, Gerwig knows how to make the best use of theater screens when need be.

Although Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will receive a limited theatrical window in IMAX, the film will be sent to streaming eventually, suggesting a hybrid model for the director in her future career as well.

Therefore, it is best for Greta Gerwig to remain a theater-exclusive director like Christopher Nolan, since her movies are appreciated by cinemagoers more than people allegedly watching from the comfort of their home.

Would you prefer to see Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew in theaters or streaming? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will be released on February 12, 2027.