Emma Mackey cast as White Witch role in ‘Narnia’, beats Margaret Qualley
The Narnia world just got a little bigger. It has been confirmed that Sex Education star Emma Mackey will play the coveted role of The White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s much-anticipated upcoming Narnia adaptation for Netflix.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mackey was up against difficult competition. “While many actresses vied for the part, it came down to Mackey and ‘The Substance’ star Margaret Qualley,” the outlet revealed.
Casting for the role has been the subject of many rumours. It was also reported that “Charli XCX was at one point tipped for the role of the White Witch, but that proved to be premature.” Most recently, it was revealed that Meryl Streep is in talks to play Aslan, the talking lion and King of the Beasts.
Mackey has big boots to fill. We Need to Talk About Kevin actor Tilda Swinton played the villain in the 2005 film adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Nonetheless, Gerwig’s project differs slightly as it follows the plot of C. S. Lewis’ sixth Narnia book, ‘The Magician’s Nephew’.
In this tale, the White Witch is depicted earlier in her life and will be the primary antagonist. The script, written by Gerwig, will likely explain why the Witch plunged Narnia into an endless winter and turns her enemies into statues.
Despite Qualley narrowly missing out on the role, both actors are swiftly rising to stardom. Qualley’s recent work opposite Demi Moore in The Substance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, while Mackey previously worked with Gerwig on the award-winning 2023 Barbie movie.
Gerwig’s work on Barbie made her the highest-grossing female director of all time, as the movie raked in over $1 billion at the box office. Her first Narnia project is set for Netflix, although it will run for two weeks in IMAX theatres during the Thanksgiving season in 2026. The filmmaker is signed on to direct two Narnia movies so far.