“The momentum in the industry is palpable,” said an upbeat Adam Aron Tuesday, noting new studio commitments to longer theatrical windows, new labor contracts between guilds and producers, and recent news that Netflix will give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia a full global theatrical release.
“The significance cannot be lost by anyone of Netflix’s announcement that in February, 2027, just nine months from now, they will be giving Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, a global, theatrical release … This is the biggest opportunity our industry has ever had to embrace Netflix as a theatrical contest provider,” he said on a call with analysts after first-quarter earnings.
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The film was originally slated for Thanksgiving 2026 with a limited two-week global run on 1,000 Imax screens.
Asked if he thinks the change of plans for Narnia, based on C.S. Lewis’ 1955 novel, is a one-off or new trend, Aron said there’s been a “tremendous amount of high-level diplomacy” between the two companies since last fall. AMC showed the giant streamer’s Kpop Demon Hunters Singalong over Halloween weekend, the Stranger Things finale on New Year’s Eve, and One Piece episodes in March.
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The success of those three is one reason the streamer is taking a swing with Narnia, he said, and “I believe … we will find other opportunities to work with Netflix.”
As for “what this leads to, I will leave you all to speculate among yourselves” but the “interpersonal dynamic” is good now and “both companies have said publicly and privately that we are looking to do more together.”
Narnia’s global wide release is set for February 12 with a Netflix drop on April 2.