What The Cast Of The Chronicles Of Narnia Looks Like Today
For generations, children's book author C.S. Lewis has captured the imaginations of readers everywhere with the fantastical series, "The Chronicles of Narnia." Even those unfamiliar with the books have at least heard of the magical land of Narnia, the wise lion, Aslan, and the Pevensie children. For many, the series was a gateway not only to amazing adventures but to a love for the fantasy genre.
Walt Disney Studios was the first to bring the "Chronicles" adventures to life on the big screen. In 2001, Walden Media acquired the rights to the Lewis property, and the first film of the series, "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe," premiered in theaters in 2005. With high box office numbers and a positive critical reception, a green light was given to the next film of the series, "Prince Caspian," which was released in 2008. After a budget issue caused a split between Disney and Walden during filming, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" was picked up by 20th Century Fox for distribution, and the third film was released in 2010.
Although the Walden Media "Chronicles" franchise fizzled out following several changes of hands, the future of the property now rests with TV producer Mark Gordan and Netflix streaming. In 2018, Netflix announced a team-up with Gordan's production company, eOne, in a new venture to reboot the series (per Deadline). Though there have been several delays — including one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — a thread from Netflix France in April 2022 stated that the "Narnia" series is still in development.
It's been nearly two decades since "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," and over a dozen years since "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." For those wondering what the cast has been up to after all this time, here's a breakdown of what the cast of "The Chronicles of Narnia" films looks like today.
William Moseley (Peter Pevensie)
As the eldest of the Pevensie children, Peter carries a lot of responsibility. During the events of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," while their father is fighting in the war, Peter becomes the man of the house. He keeps his younger siblings safe and protected, watching over the group when they are sent into the country during the London bombings.
Once the children are transported into the realm of Narnia, Peter learns what it means to be a true leader. He becomes Aslan's champion and leads the charge into battle against the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) during the film's explosive climax. His courage, integrity, and strength make him deserving of the title of High King Peter the Magnificent.
Actor William Moseley was 18 years old when he played the role of Peter. Moseley has since had several more credits added to his resume, appearing in several independent features, including "Run," "The Silent Mountain," "Carrie Pilby," and "The Veil." From 2015 to 2017, he co-starred in the E! Network drama "The Royals," playing Prince Liam Henstridge. Moseley could also be seen in the Disney+ film "Artemis Fowl," which was released on the streaming platform in 2020. His most recent appearance was in the 2021 film "Land of Dreams," and he also has some upcoming projects on the way.
Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie)
Susan is the eldest daughter, a young lady on the verge of womanhood when we first meet her in "Wardrobe." Level-headed and nurturing, Susan is less inclined to explore the wonders of Narnia than her fellow siblings. However, her goodness and gentle nature prove to be invaluable, earning her the title of Queen Susan the Gentle. At the end of "Caspian," Aslan (Liam Neeson) tells her that she will not return to Narnia. Over time, Susan becomes preoccupied with the shallow trappings of teenage life and forgets about Narnia altogether.
Anna Popplewell played Susan in each of the "Chronicles of Narnia" films, though she appeared only briefly in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." She followed up with another adaptation of a famous literary work — "Brave New World," a TV movie that aired on NBC in 2011. She then co-starred in the limited web series, "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn," based on the popular video game franchise. She landed her first starring role in the UK thriller "Freak of Nature" (alternately titled "Passengers") in 2015.
In 2013, Popplewell joined the cast of the CW period drama "Reign." The series gives a fictional account of the life of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), and her arranged marriage to King Francis de Valois (Toby Regbo). Popplewell played Lola, one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting and a trusted friend. "Reign" received high praise from critics, though it was cancelled after four seasons.
Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie)
Being a middle child is never easy, as aptly demonstrated by Edmund Pevensie. Forced to leave their family home and playing second fiddle to his older brother, Edmund is riddled with feelings of bitterness and resentment.
In "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," Edmund's self-centeredness allows him to be easily seduced by the White Witch, betraying his brother and sisters in the process. This leads to him learning a harsh lesson, and yet all is eventually forgiven as he learns the error of his ways. Edmund comes into his own in "Prince Caspian" and "Dawn Treader," as his formerly selfish ways are left behind him.
English actor Skandar Keynes played Edmund in the "Chronicles" films. Between the first and third movies, the audience watched Keynes grow up before their very eyes. Keynes was 14 years old when the first film was released, and 19 when the final film came out. However, his career took a very different path following his role as Edmund. Now in his thirties, Keynes has put acting behind him to join the world of politics. In 2015, he became an advisor to MP Crispin Blunt for the UK Conservative party.
Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie)
The youngest of the Pevensie children, Lucy is full of childlike imagination and wonderment. She is the first to step into the world of Narnia and the first to meet one of its inhabitants: Mr. Tumnus, the faun (James McAvoy).
It is Lucy's youthful exuberance and unwavering kindness that led to her being crowned Queen Lucy the Valiant at the end of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." She then returned to Narnia in "Prince Caspian" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." In the latter, it was revealed that Lucy was envious of her sister Susan's good looks when she found a spellbook that contained a spell that would make her beautiful. However, Aslan intervened, putting Lucy back on the straight and narrow path.
Georgie Henley was 10 years old when she played Lucy in the first film, and 15 during "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." In her later works, Henley took on characters with much darker inclinations.
In 2014, she co-starred with Abigail Breslin in the suspense thriller "Perfect Sisters," and quickly followed it up with a second thriller entitled "The Sisterhood of Night." Henley attended Cambridge University, where she acted in and directed a number of stage plays. Henley then appeared in the 2017 musical dramedy "Access All Areas." In 2019, Henley was cast as Margaret Tudor in the Starz limited series "The Spanish Princess."
Will Poulter (Eustace Scrubb)
In "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," Lucy and Edmund are visiting the home of their cousin Eustace while their older siblings are abroad. Unfortunately, Eustace is an insufferable nuisance who bullies his cousins for their belief in Narnia. He receives a rude awakening when a magical painting transports the three children into the other realm. Though Edmund and Lucy are thrilled to be reunited with their old friend Caspian (Ben Barnes), Eustace is clearly unhappy about the circumstances. He adamantly grumbles and complains about the poor conditions he is expected to endure while on the Dawn Treader, earning the ire of everyone aboard.
Will Poulter played Eustace Scrubb in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Over the last decade of his career, Poulter has been involved in a variety of film projects from both independent and major studios. He co-starred alongside Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis in the 2013 comedy "We're the Millers," followed by British films "Plastic" and "Glassland" in 2014. He then joined the "Maze Runner" franchise that same year, playing Gally, a role which he reprised in 2018's "Maze Runner: The Death Cure."
Poulter played young Jim Bridger alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2015 Oscar-winning drama "The Revenant." He then acted in a streak of indie films for the next few years, the most notable being A24's horror hit "Midsommar" in 2018. Most recently, Poulter played Bobby Jones in the highly-acclaimed mini-series based on Agatha Christie's "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" In 2021, Poulter was cast in the high-profile MCU role of Adam Warlock in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."
Ben Barnes (Caspian)
The second installment of "The Chronicles of Narnia" is "Prince Caspian," which introduces the heroic lost prince of Narnia. Raised by his cruel uncle, Caspian's life was in danger when his aunt gave birth to a new potential heir. He managed to escape his uncle's grasp, and eventually met the Pevensie children. Together, they began a revolution to restore Caspian to his rightful place on the throne. Caspian was joined by Lucy and Edmund once again during their high seas adventure, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader."
Actor Ben Barnes played Caspian in the "Narnia" films, and has since gone on to become a name in both film and television. He starred in several features during the 2010s, including "Killing Bono," "The Big Wedding," "Jack and Ryan," "By the Gun," and "Seventh Son." In 2016, he joined the cast of HBO's sci-fi epic "Westworld," playing the sadistic, morally-bankrupt Logan. His aptitude for playing nefarious villains continued when he took on the role of Billy Russo in the Netflix series "The Punisher."
Although he is best known for his acting career, Barnes is also a talented musician and singer. He has posted numerous videos on social media of himself performing, and released an EP in 2021, along with two music videos. Also in 2021, Barnes joined the cast of the Netflix fantasy series "Shadow and Bone" as General Kirigan.
Tilda Swinton (The White Witch)
The antagonist for "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is one of children's literature's most infamous baddies, the White Witch. This chilling villain (pun intended) is a powerful sorcerer who blankets the land of Narnia in a permanent wintry state. Though she calls herself the Queen of Narnia, she is nothing but a charlatan, feared and abhorred throughout the land. When the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve threaten to usurp her throne, the White Witch calls upon dark magic to prevent the saviors from achieving victory. In the end, she is defeated by the powers of good, and her evil is wiped from the land.
Acclaimed actor Tilda Swinton portrayed the White Witch in the Narnia films. Since appearing in the franchise, Swinton has gone on to find success in both indie and major studio features. In 2008, she won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in "Michael Clayton." She also won a BAFTA for the same role, and was nominated for her work in "Burn After Reading" and "We Need to Talk About Kevin." She and co-star Tom Hiddleston were given high praise from critics for the vampire drama "Only Lovers Left Alive" in 2013.
In 2016, Swinton joined the MCU when she portrayed The Ancient One in 2016's "Doctor Strange." Swinton's other various films include "War Machine," "Suspiria," "The Dead Don't Die," and "The French Dispatch." Her most recent project pairs her with Idris Elba in the upcoming "Three Thousand Years of Longing."
James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnus)
When Lucy Pevensie first enters Narnia, she encounters a peculiar creature — a faun named Mr. Tumnus. Though Mr. Tumnus is just as surprised to see Lucy as she is to see him, he courteously invites her into his home for a cup of tea. Little does young Lucy realize that Tumnus is a spy for the White Witch, and has lured her into a trap. However, the guilt of his actions soon overwhelms him, and Tumnus tells Lucy all about the evil queen and the curse she has placed over Narnia. He helps her to escape back to her world, and the two part as friends. Lucy and her siblings later encounter Tumnus, finding that he has been turned to stone as punishment for turning against the White Witch — but he is rescued by Aslan, who breaks the spell and brings him back to life.
James McAvoy played Mr. Tumnus in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," and has gone on to have a successful film career. He followed up the "Chronicles" movie with the acclaimed drama "The Last King of Scotland," which he co-starred opposite Forest Whitaker in the acclaimed role that won him an Academy Award. In 2007, McAvoy starred in "Atonement," and then he joined the "X-Men" film franchise as a young Charles Xavier in "X-Men: First Class" in 2011. He would continue to reprise the role for the next three films in the Marvel Legacy universe.
In 2019, McAvoy joined the cast of "It: Chapter 2," playing the grown-up counterpart of Bill Denbrough (played by Jaeden Martell in 2017's "It"). He was then cast as Lord Asriel in the HBO Max sci-fi epic series "His Dark Materials," based on the books by Philip Pullman.
Kiran Shah (Ginarrbrik)
As the White Witch's loyal servant, Ginarrbrik is more than just the one who drives the sleigh. He is fully devoted to the evil queen and carries out her bidding. Ginarrbrik delights in torturing Edmund while they hold the boy captive, feeding him scraps and taunting him. While Edmund is bound, Ginarrbrik whips and curses at the young Son of Adam, forcing him to march through the snowy wilderness. His hatred for the boy is especially evident during the final battle in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," when Ginarrbrik attempts to kill Edmund but is put down by Susan's arrow.
Kiran Shah played Ginarrbrik in the first "Chronicles" film. He began his acting career as a stand-in and a stunt double over many years, beginning in the 1970s. In "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he was a double for each of the main hobbits, and was also a double for Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" films. His role in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" has become his most recognizable character. In 2015, Shah played Teedo, the reptilian scavenger who was eying BB-8 on Jakku in "Stars Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens." A Star Wars veteran, he also played Neepers Panpick in "The Last Jedi," and Nambi Ghima in "The Rise of Skywalker."
Jim Broadbent (Professor Kirke)
The country house where Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy find themselves seeking refuge is owned by a kindly older man named Professor Kirke. At first, Kirke is an elusive figure who spends his time shut away in his office. However, the children soon learn that Kirke is a bit of a jovial eccentric. He listens to the children's problems, and offers them wise advice. He also seems to be hiding secret knowledge of his own, alluding to the idea that he himself is a believer in Narnia.
Professor Kirke was played by Jim Broadbent, who has had a long, distinguished acting career as one of the most in-demand character actors of his era. Harry Potter fans will likely recognize him as Professor Horace Slughorn from the films "The Order of the Phoenix" and "Deathly Hallows Part 2," yet he has had many more film credits to his name following his "Chronicles" role. "Hot Fuzz," "The Iron Lady," "Arthur Christmas," "Paddington" 1 and 2, and "Bridget Jones's Baby" are just some of the most prominent movies that Broadbent has appeared in over the years. Broadbent was also featured in Season 7 of "Game of Thrones," playing Archmaester Ebrose. Most recently, he appeared with fellow "Chronicles" actor Will Poulter in the BBC mini-series "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?"
Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin
In "Prince Caspian," the Narnian dwarf Trumpkin is introduced when he is taken captive by Mraz (Sergio Castellitto) and accused of abducting Prince Caspian. Providing false evidence, Mraz convinces the Telmarine council to go to war against the Narnians. Trumpkin is then taken to the middle of the river by Telmarine soldiers to be drowned, but he is saved just in time by the Pevensie siblings. He then leads the Pevensies to Caspian, who join the cause to defeat the Telmarine army and place the young prince on his rightful throne.
"Game of Thrones" actor Peter Dinklage is almost unrecognizable as Trumpkin beneath the prosthetics, wig, and false beard. Most notable at the time for a scene-stealing rant against Lynchian dwarf dreams in "Living in Oblivion," and duking it out with Will Ferrell in the holiday classic "Elf," Dinklage has since become one of film and television's most notable performers. In 2007, Dinklage appeared in the British comedy "Death at a Funeral." He reprised his role in the 2010 American remake of the same name.
In 2011, Dinklage played the sarcastic, wine and book-loving Tyrion Lannister in the epic HBO fantasy series "Game of Thrones" — a role which helped anchor all eight seasons of the show. His Emmy-winning performance on that series opened up many more opportunities for Dinklage. In 2014, Dinklage was cast in "X-Men: Days of Future Past" as Dr. Bolivar Trask, and he also acted in several independent films. He had voice acting roles in both the "Ice Age" and "Angry Birds" movies, and most recently received high praise for his performance in the musical comedy "Cyrano."