Netflix goes to the movies

Netflix announced a wide theatrical release for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia prequel, “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” after the film’s earlier plan for a limited IMAX run. The release is scheduled for February and will play in movie theaters worldwide before arriving on Netflix in April. The theatrical window will last 49 days, which is described as the first of its kind for Netflix and its longest theater run. The change has generated excitement in Hollywood, including movie theater owners, because exclusive theatrical windows have generally shrunk with the rise of streaming services. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep.

"In the movie business, the number of days that a film is shown exclusively in theaters is a big deal. That window, as the industry calls it, has shrunk over the years, especially since the advent of streaming services. So why has Netflix, the world's largest streamer, announced a wide theatrical release of its upcoming "Narnia" prequel? Well, NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports that this news has many in the film business excited."

"The streamer originally planned to release it in IMAX theaters for two weeks around Thanksgiving. But now the release date has been pushed to February, to be shown in movie theaters worldwide, not just IMAX, before it shows up on the streamer in April. That 49-day theatrical window, the first of its kind and duration for Netflix, has pleasantly surprised many in Hollywood, especially movie theater owners."

"After the massive success of her "Barbie" movie, writer-director Greta Gerwig took on a new film adaptation of the classic C. S. Lewis book "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew." On BBC Radio 4, Gerwig talked about the fantasy story, a prequel to "The Chronicles Of Narnia." (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) GRETA GERWIG: I really do have such reverence for "Narnia." I loved "Narnia" so much as a child."

"Gerwig's big budget film includes actors Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep. The streamer originally planned to release it in IMAX theaters for two weeks around Thanksgiving. But now the release date has been pushed to February, to be shown in movie theaters worldwide, not just IMAX, before it shows up on the streamer in April."

Read at www.npr.org