Original Narnia Star's Remake Comments Are Exactly Why He Should Return For Greta Gerwig's Adaptation
Greta Gerwig's The Chronicles of Narnia remake will have to feature a brand new cast, but one of the original stars has proven why he should return anyway. 2005's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first live-action imagining of C.S. Lewis' beloved fantasy book series, which means it is now difficult to separate the characters from those who played them. Gerwig will have the challenging task of recasting Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, but that isn't to say her upcoming Narnia remake can't feature the legacy cast in other ways.
The four child protagonists of The Chronicles of Narnia were played by William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley, each portraying their characters spectacularly. Of course, as is part of the theme of Lewis' Narnia books, these actors and their characters ultimately grew up, and Gerwig's reboot will start the story with new actors from the beginning. Moseley, who played Peter in the Disney movies, said he would be willing to return for Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia movie if he were asked, but he finds that the themes of Lewis' work might not allow it.
Director Greta Gerwig has officially been tapped to helm a Chronicles of Narnia reboot, and here's what we know about the upcoming film series.
Moseley seems eager and ready to return for Gerwig's movie if the opportunity were presented, but he made a point that the doors to Narnia may be closed to him now. The actor pointed out a line spoken to Peter in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader —"Your time here now is done." This indicates that, just as Peter grew up beyond his time in Narnia, Moseley had already served his purpose to the fictional world. However, such a touching sentiment makes him more fitting for the upcoming reboot.
It's precisely this kind of appreciation for Lewis' work and what it represents that Gerwig's Narnia movie needs.
There's a lot of symbolism in Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, much of which revolves around the bittersweet nature of growing up. This is something that Moseley seems to intimately understand, having already related this to his own experience working on this film franchise in the 2000s. It's precisely this kind of appreciation for Lewis' work and what it represents that Gerwig's Narnia movie needs. Therefore, it can be hoped that the director would invite Moseley to join, though the actor clearly couldn't portray Peter any longer.
While a new young cast must be brought in to play the Pevensies, Moseley could play countless adult characters if asked to return. Mr. Tumnus would be fitting since he is Lucy's first connection with Narnia and why the children decide to stay int he first place. Moseley could also potentially lend his voice to Aslan, replacing Liam Neeson and allowing for a nostalgic connection for those who notice. However, there is one character in The Chroncicles of Narnia that would be the most fitting for a prior child of Narnia to portray.
Professor Digory Kirke, whom Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy come to stay with in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, would be the most appropriate character for Moseley to play in Gerwig's upcoming movie. The old man's history is deeply rooted in Narnia since he, like Peter, had traveled there as a child. Of course, the actor would need to be aged up to take on the role, but since the Professor is later reverted to his youth in the Narnia books, this would make sense. It would be a nostalgic and beautiful poetic way to get Moseley back involved with the remake—if only Gerwig takes this route.
*Availability in US
Not available
Not available
Not available