Greta Gerwig, the writer-director behind Barbie, reportedly had a bitter falling out with Netflix's then-head of film, Dan Lin, over her upcoming adaptation of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, according to a Variety report on Lin's departure from the streamer. The dispute is said to have unfolded during a Zoom call earlier this year and has become a talking point about how Netflix manages high-profile directors.
Four sources with knowledge of the matter told Variety that Lin and Gerwig clashed on a virtual meeting attended by numerous Netflix executives. Lin was described as «dismissive» toward the director while discussing the film's progress. The report noted that Lin is widely regarded in the industry as fair but can be blunt to the point of insensitivity. Word of the strained meeting spread quickly inside Netflix, and Bela Bajaria, then the company's chief content officer, called Gerwig's producer Amy Pascal to smooth things over, according to the account. Two sources also said Gerwig's agent Bryan Lourd went directly to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos about the incident.
Lin subsequently stepped away from the film, and his top lieutenant, Doug Belgrad, took over as the primary Netflix executive overseeing the project until Belgrad was laid off last week, the report said. None of the sources suggested the clash led to Lin's firing, Variety added. The episode nonetheless offers a window into the internal dynamics surrounding one of Netflix's most anticipated literary adaptations.
The timing has amplified interest. Not long before his departure, Lin said in an interview that Netflix «just won't work with» directors who insist their films also receive a theatrical release. «There is a group of filmmakers who still want theatrical,» he said. «Those are filmmakers that we've accepted we just won't work with.» Gerwig's Narnia film is set for an exclusive theatrical run, with IMAX previews beginning February 10, 2027, and a wide opening on February 12, before streaming on Netflix on April 2.
Netflix recently launched the marketing campaign for The Magician's Nephew with a first trailer and a new poster. The film adapts C.S. Lewis's 1955 fantasy novel, the sixth book published in the Chronicles of Narnia series but a prequel in the story's chronology. The cast includes David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma.
The reported friction comes as streaming services face scrutiny over their commitment to filmmakers who value big-screen releases. For Netflix, the Narnia project represents a major bet on a franchise with a built-in audience, and the studio has signaled confidence by pairing a theatrical window with its streaming debut. For Gerwig, the film follows the commercial and critical success of Barbie and marks another large-scale adaptation of a beloved property.
Neither Netflix nor representatives for Gerwig have publicly commented on the reported clash. The film remains on track for its 2027 release, with the trailer already generating discussion among fans of the books and of Gerwig's work.