Stop everything. Put down your Turkish Delight and cancel your sled rides — Emma Mackey is officially stepping into Narnia to serve looks colder than your ex’s heart. That’s right, our favorite French-British icon from Sex Education and Barbie is reuniting with director Greta “Oscar Bait” Gerwig to play none other than the frosty diva herself, the White Witch.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (aka the Sorting Hat of casting news), Greta’s next cinematic adventure is diving into The Magician’s Nephew, a.k.a. the sixth book in C.S. Lewis’ universe — but let’s be real, time moves weird in Narnia so… don’t overthink it.
Emma will be playing Jadis, who’s basically Narnia’s version of Regina George if she had a magic wand and a PhD in petrifying people. This is the witch who decided climate change who? and iced up the entire kingdom like it was her personal snow globe — and made it winter forever, but no Christmas. Not even a peppermint mocha. Rude.
This is the first confirmed casting for the new Narnia reboot, though Hollywood’s rumor mill has been spicier than Edmund with a sugar rush. At one point, Charli XCX was allegedly in talks to play the icy queen — imagine the soundtrack! Meanwhile, Margaret Qualley was also in the running, but ultimately the crown (and the fur coat) went to Emma.
Also swirling around the casting cauldron: Meryl Streep, who could probably play a talking lamp and still win an Oscar, and Daniel Craig, who was reportedly offered a role — possibly a sword-wielding lion? A brooding faun? A retired James Bond who got lost in a wardrobe?
No release date yet, but with Greta Gerwig directing and Emma Mackey giving us snowstorm realness, expect a magical ride through Narnia full of girlboss energy, freeze-dried villains, and at least one emotional monologue about Turkish Delight.
So basically: Chronicles of Slay-nia is coming. And winter just got fabulous. ❄️👑
