The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a fantasy film based on the classic novel by C.S. Lewis. The film was released in 2005 and is the first installment in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. The story follows four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who discover a magical wardrobe that transports them to the mystical world of Narnia. The cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is filled with talented actors who bring the beloved characters to life.

Spring Book Club: Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: Welcome

Welcome to the Spring Book Club brought to you by Wessels!

The cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is filled with talented actors who bring the beloved characters to life. Georgie Henley portrays Lucy Pevensie, the youngest of the siblings, who is the first to discover the enchanted wardrobe. Her portrayal of Lucy captures the innocence and curiosity of the character.

This semester's Book Club Choice

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9780064404990

Publication Date: 2008-01-02

Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. A beautiful paperback edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition features cover art by three-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator David Wiesner and interior black-and-white illustrations by the series' original illustrator, Pauline Baynes. Four adventurous siblings--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie--step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice. Open the door and enter a new world! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been captivating readers of all ages with a magical land and unforgettable characters for over sixty years. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to discover more about Narnia, pick up The Horse and His Boy, the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter step through a magical wardrobe and find the land of Narnia. There, the they discover a charming, once peaceful kingdom that has been plunged into eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Aided by the wise and magnificent lion, Aslan, the children lead Narnia into a spectacular, climactic battle to be free of the Witch's glacial powers forever.

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Narnia, De kronieken van Narnia : De leeuw, de heks en de kleerkast, The Chronicles of Narnia, Narnia - Häxan och lejonet, Las Crónicas de Narnia: El León, la Bruja y el Ropero, Лев, колдунья и волшебный шкаф, Die Chroniken von Narnia - Der König von Narnia, De Kronieken van Narnia: De Leeuw, de Heks en de Kleerkast, Opowieści z Narnii: Lew, Czarownica i Stara Szafa, Le Monde de Narnia : Le Lion, la Sorcière blanche et l'Armoire magique, Le Monde de Narnia, chapitre 1 : Le Lion, la Sorcière blanche et l'Armoire magique, Le Monde De Narnia 1 Le Lion La Sorcière Blanche Et l'Armoire Magique, The Chronicles of Narnia 1 - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Letopisy Narnie 1: Lev, čarodějnice a skříň, The Chronicles of Narnia I: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, ナルニア国物語 第1章: ライオンと魔女, ナルニア国物語 第1章 ライオンと魔女, Biên Niên Sử Narnia: Sư Tử, Phù Thủy và Cái Tủ Áo, Le cronache di Narnia - Il leone, la strega e l'armadio, Die Chroniken von Narnia: Der König von Narnia, Le Monde de Narnia : Le Lion, la sorcière blanche et l'armoire magique, Хроники Нарнии: Лев, колдунья и волшебный шкаф, Narnia Günlükleri: Aslan, Cadı ve Dolap, Las crónicas de Narnia: El león, la bruja y el armario, 纳尼亚传奇：狮子、女巫和魔衣橱, Narnian tarinat: Velho ja leijona, Narnia - Løven, heksen og garderobeskabet, Narnia krónikái: Az oroszlán, a boszorkány és a ruhásszekrény, Berättelsen om Narnia - Häxan och lejonet, As Crónicas de Nárnia: O Leão, a Feiticeira e o Guarda-Roupa, Opowieści z Narnii: Lew, Czarownica i stara szafa, Narnia: Lev, šatník a čarodejnica, Legenden om Narnia - Løven, Heksa og klesskapet, Letopisy Narnie: Lev, čarodějnice a skříň, Хрониките на Нарния: Лъвът, Вещицата и Дрешникът, Το Χρονικό της Νάρνια: Το Λιοντάρι, η Μάγισσα και η Ντουλάπα, 나니아 연대기: 사자, 마녀 그리고 옷장, סיפורי נרניה: האריה, המכשפה וארון הבגדים, ナルニア国物語／第1章：ライオンと魔女, Cronicile din Narnia: Leul, vrăjitoarea și dulapul, As Crônicas de Nárnia: O Leão, a Feiticeira e o Guarda-Roupa, Хроніки Нарнії: Лев, чаклунка та шафа, Les Chroniques de Narnia: L'armoire magique, 納尼亞傳奇：獅子、女巫、魔衣櫥, Narnijos kronikos: Liūtas, burtininkė ir drabužių spinta, 魔幻王國：獅子·女巫·魔衣櫥, Las crónicas de Narnia: El león, la bruja y el ropero, Хронікі Нарніі: Леў, вядзьмарка і гардэроб, อภินิหารตำนานแห่งนาร์เนีย ตอน ราชสีห์ แม่มด กับตู้พิศวง, Летописи Нарније: Лав, вештица и орман, Zgodbe iz Narnije: Lev, čarovnica in omara, سجلات نارنيا: الأسد، الساحرة وخزانة الملابس, ნარნიის ქრონიკები: ლომი, ჯადოქარი და კარადა, Nārnijas hronika: Lauva, Ragana un Drēbju skapis, سرگذشت نارنیا: شیر، کمد و جادوگر, Ljetopisi Narnije: Lav, vještica i garderober, Les cròniques de Nàrnia: El lleó, la bruixa i l'armari

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08 Dec 2005

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Courageous Nerd

Back in 2005, the Chronicles of Narnia to a contemporary audience, with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Find out what the cast are doing now, more than 15 years after leaving Narnia behind. The Chronicles of Narnia, as written by novelist C.S. Lewis, began its life in 1950 with the publication of The…

Back in 2005, the Chronicles of Narnia to a contemporary audience, with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Find out what the cast are doing now, more than 15 years after leaving Narnia behind.

The Chronicles of Narnia, as written by novelist C.S. Lewis, began its life in 1950 with the publication of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. In the decades since, multiple adaptations of Lewis’ work have been made. However, none are as cinematic and high budgeted as Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media’s recent series (2005-2010). These films were directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and later Michael Apted.

Of course, the Pevensie siblings are the undisputed heart and soul of the Chronicles of Narnia – whether the whole group or a small fraction are featured. At the very beginning, four young actors were needed to bring the beloved protagonists to life. William Moseley was cast as eldest sibling Peter, Anna Popplewell played talented archer Susan, Skandar Keynes portrayed rebellious Edmund and last but not least, Georgie Henley embodied Lucy, the endearing youngest sibling. As the series progressed, other emerging British acting talent, namely Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian) and Will Poulter (Eustace), also joined the fray.

What have this core group of six have been up to since their respective Narnia journeys ended – are they still acting? How much has being in The Chronicles of Narnia affected their later career choices? Let’s take a look.

William Moseley as Peter Pevensie

Moseley, originally from Gloucestershire, was cast as Peter, future High King of Narnia in his late teens. He appeared in a major starring role for the first two films and made a cameo appearance in Voyage of The Dawn Treader, despite Peter not being present in C.S. Lewis’ book of the same name.

Since departing from the Chronicles of Narnia, Moseley has steadily continued his acting career. Perhaps most notably, the now 33-year-old joined another monarchy opposite Elizabeth Hurley in The Royals, a soap opera aired on E!. He appeared in 2013’s Run. Moseley met his long-time girlfriend, actress Kelsey Asbille on that project. Other notable films include The Little Mermaid, Friend Request, In Like Flynn and a small role in Artemis Fowl.

The actor occasionally uses social media to reflect on his time with The Chronicles of Narnia, sharing a reunion photo with the other three “Pevensies” on Instagram in 2018.

Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie

With her appearance in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Anna Popplewell followed in the footsteps of her younger brother, Peter Pan‘s Freddie Popplewell (aka Michael Darling), in appearing in an adaptation of a classic British children’s story. Popplewell reprised her role as Susan in Prince Caspian. Furthermore, similarly to Moseley, she made a brief appearance in Voyage of The Dawn Treader.

Popplewell has also continued in her acting career, playing series regular ‘Lady Lola’ on The CW series Reign between 2013-2016. She also starred in the 2012 Halo web series, Forward Unto Dawn, starring in the role of Chyler Silva.

Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie

Skandar Keynes, a descendant of renowned naturalist Charles Darwin, appeared as Edmund, the second-youngest Pevensie sibling, who briefly served as a traitorous antagonist in the first film. Keynes reprised the role of Edmund in both Prince Caspian and Voyage of The Dawn Treader. He is one of the few cast members to have a main role in all three films.

Although Keynes had an acting career prior to the Chronicles of Narnia, his only performance since the franchise ended came in 2014 – a voice role in the audio drama The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty: In Freedom’s Cause, as Sir Allan Kerr. Ultimately, Keynes announced his retirement from acting in 2016, instead pursuing a career in politics.

Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie

Georgie Henley played Lucy Pevensie, the youngest sibling and also the first to discover Narnia. Of the four children in the first film, Henley was the only one who had not acted professionally before. Alongside Keynes, Henley reprised her role of Lucy for the following two films and remained a prominent cast member throughout the trilogy.

In her later career, Henley has appeared in films such as Perfect Sisters (opposite Abigail Breslin and Mira Sorvino), as well as The Sisterhood of Night. On television, Henley starred as Margaret Tudor on the Starz series The Spanish Princess, between 2019-2020. In January 2019, Henley was cast in an unnamed Game of Thrones prequel, which ultimately did not make it to series.

Ben Barnes as Caspian

Ben Barnes was a latecomer to the Chronicles of Narnia, having joined the cast in 2008’s Prince Caspian as the title character. Born in 1981, Barnes was 27 at the time of Prince Caspian‘s release and had an already established career in Film, Television and Theatre. Two years after Prince Caspian, Barnes joined co-stars Keynes and Henley for The Voyage of The Dawn Treader.

In between Narnia films, Barnes portrayed the title character in Dorian Gray, opposite Colin Firth. His further films following the franchise ending include Killing Bono, The Big Wedding, Jackie & Ryan and Seventh Son. Barnes has also made his mark on television, landing series regular roles on both HBO’s Westworld (as Logan Delos) and Netflix’s The Punisher ( as Billy Russo).

However, despite his career having moved on significantly, Barnes also looks back fondly on his time in Narnia. Most recently, he shared a throwback picture on Twitter to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Voyage of The Dawn Treader.

Will Poulter as Eustace Scrubb

Will Poulter was the final major cast member to join the Chronicles of Narnia, playing Eustace Scrubb solely in Voyage of The Dawn Treader. Poulter was 17 at the time of that film’s release and had previously attended the London-based Harrodian School, with fellow alumni including Robert Pattinson, Jack Whitehall, and George MacKay. As for his acting career prior to Narnia, Poulter starred in Son of Rambow, a 2007 British comedy film which was written and directed by Garth Jennings.

Poulter has been able to have a diverse career since his appearance in the Chronicles of Narnia. He has worked in comedy (We’re The Millers), adventure (The Revenant), war (War Machine), dystopian drama (The Maze Runner) and period pieces (Detroit). In 2018, Poulter also notably appeared in the Black Mirror episode “Bandersnatch”, which notably allowed viewers to influence what happened in the storyline.

Even though all six of these actors have grown and evolved since their time in the Narnia films, the memories will always be there for them and for the countless fans around the globe.

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‘The Chronicles Of Narnia’ Then & Now: See Cast’s Transformation — Pics

Catch up on where all 'The Chronicles of Narnia' cast members are today, in honor of the film series' third sequel premiering on Disney Plus on Oct. 9!

It has almost been 15 years since C.S. Lewis’s magical book series, The Chronicles of Narnia, was brought to life with the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In the first film, fans watched the four Pevensie siblings — Lucie, Edmund, Peter and Susan — stumble upon a wardrobe in Professor Digory Kirke’s home that leads them away from London amid World War 2 and into the supernatural, almost medieval-like land of Narnia.

A still of the Pevensie siblings (played by Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell) in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Photo Credit: Everett/AP)

The first film was followed by two more movies, with the last premiering in theaters in 2010. There was supposed to be a fourth sequel, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, which has yet to happen, unfortunately. But in honor of the third sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader premiering on Disney Plus on Oct. 9, 2020, we’re looking back at the many actors and actresses whose journeys we followed between the real world and Narnia!

Georgie Henley (Lucie Pevensie)

Photo Credit: Everett/AP

Georgie Henley played Lucie Pevensie, the youngest of the Pevensie siblings. The actress was only 10 years old when the first film premiered, and fans saw Georgie grow up as she reprised her role for the next two films. Following the third sequel of The Chronicles of Narnia, Georgia held leading roles in three movies: Perfect Sisters (2014), The Sisterhood of Night (2014) and Access All Areas (2017). She also starred as Princes Meg Tudor/Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots in the Starz television mini-series The Spanish Princess, which premiered in 2019 and started airing the second half of its 16 episodes in Oct. 2020.

Georgie also filmed a pilot for a Game of Thrones prequel alongside Naomi Watts, which sadly got cancelled, our sister publication Deadline reported in Oct. 2019. Outside of acting, Georgie also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Clare College, University of Cambridge in 2016.

Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie)

Photo Credit: Everett/Splashnews

Like his co-star Georgie, Skandar Keynes starred in all three of The Chronicles of Narnia films between 2005-2010. He was just 14 years old when the first Narnia film premiered in theaters! After the last film, Skandar studied at the prestigious Cambridge University where he pursued studies in Arabic, Persian (Farsi), and Middle Eastern History, according to his 2014 interview with Business Insider. He went on to work in politics, and worked alongside the United Kingdom’s Member of Parliament Crispin Blunt, which the British outlet Daily Express reported in 2018.

William Moseley (Peter Pevensie)

Photo Credit: Everett/Splashnews

William Moseley played the eldest of the fictional Pevensie siblings, and was 18 years old when the first film premiered in 2005. We saw his character ascend to the throne as the High King of Narnia on the big screen! William must’ve liked feeling like royalty, because he went on to star as Prince Liam in The Royals television series between 2015-2018.

After The Chronicles of Narnia, William also played a leading man in films like Friend Request (2016) and The Little Mermaid (2018). Most recently, he appeared as the “Italian Man” in the 2020 film Artemis Fowl.

Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie)

Photo Credit: Everett/AP

Anna Popplewell played Susan Pevensie, the bow and arrow-wielding, second eldest of the Pevensie siblings. She goes on to become the queen of Narnia, known otherwise as Queen Susan the Gentle. Anna was just about to turn 17 years old when the first installment of The Chronicles of Narnia film series premiered. Like her on-screen siblings Georgie and William, Anna went on to star in a television show centered around royals on Reign, on which she played Lady Lola Flemming Narcisse between 2013-2016. She also most notably played Chyler Silva in the television mini-series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (based on the popular video game), which aired in 2012.

Like Georgie, Anna also pursued English studies outside of acting! She graduated with a BA in English Literature from Oxford University in 2010, according to Anna’s IMDb page.

Tilda Swinton (Jadis the White Witch)

Photo Credit: Everett/AP

Tilda Swinton was already a famous actress going into the first film of The Chronicles of Narnia (her role in the 2001 movie, The Deep End, earned her a Golden Globe Award after all). The icy-haired actress played Jadis the White Witch in all three of the The Chronicles of Narnia films, and was 45 years old when the first movie premiered.

After the third sequel hit theaters in 2010, Tilda continued to star in equally big-budget features: Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grande Budapest Hotel (2014), Hail, Ceasar! (2016), Doctor Strange (2016), Avengers: Endgame (2020) and so forth. She also voiced Oracle in the Wes Anderson-animated film, Isle of Dogs, in 2018.

Tilda also has a longtime partner, artist Sandro Kopp, whom she’s been with since 2004. She also shares two grown-up children, Honor Swinton Byrne and Xavier Swinton Byrne, with her ex, playwright John Byrne.

James McAvoy (Mr. Tummus)

Photo Credit: AP

James McAvoy played a fan-favorite of The Chronicles of Narnia film series: Mr. Tummus! Half man and half goat, Mr. Tummus was a Fauns creature and became Lucie’s first friend after she stumbled into the land of Narnia. James enjoyed an immensely successful career after the first film premiered when he was 26 years old. His most notable roles are Professor Charles Xavier in the X:Men film series, and Dennis (who goes by multiple names) in M. Night Shyamalan’s films Split (2016) and Glass (2019).

James married actress Anne-Marie Duff in 2006, but the couple split in 2016. He later began dating Lisa Liberati who was a PA to Shyamalan on the set of Split, and they moved in together in a London home in the summer of 2020.

Will Poulter (Eustace Scrubb)

Photo Credit: Everett/AP

Will Poulter didn’t make his entrance into The Chronicles of Narnia film series until its third sequel, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The English actor was 17 years old when that film premiered, in which he played the Pevensies’ whiny cousin Eustace Scrubb. Will has gone on to land memorable roles: the hilarious Kenny Rossmore in We’re The Millers (2013), Gally in the Maze Runner film series (2014-2018), Colin Ritman in Black Mirror’s interactive film Bandersnatch (2018), and Mark in Midsommar (2019).

Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian)

Photo Credit: Everett/AP

Ben Barnes played the leading role of Prince Caspian in the second film of The Chronicles of Narnia series, Prince Caspian. He was 26 years old when the film premiered, and reprised his role in the third sequel. Like many of his Narnia co-stars, Ben continued a successful acting career: he played the leading role of Dorian Gray in the 2009 film of the same name, and has held recurring roles in the popular television series Westworld as Logan (2016-2018), The Punisher as Billy Russo (2017-2019) and Gold Digger as Benjamin Greene (2019). He also plays General Kirigan in the new TV series Shadow and Bone that’s currently in post-production as of the fall of 2020.

William Moseley takes on the role of Peter Pevensie, the eldest sibling and natural leader of the group. Moseley delivers a strong and charismatic performance as Peter, who becomes the High King of Narnia and leads the fight against the White Witch. Anna Popplewell plays Susan Pevensie, the second oldest of the siblings. Susan is portrayed as a thoughtful and practical character, and Popplewell embodies these qualities with sincerity. Skandar Keynes is Edmund Pevensie, the mischievous and sometimes troublesome brother who falls under the spell of the White Witch. Keynes effectively portrays the complex journey of Edmund, from traitor to redeemed hero. Tilda Swinton delivers a chilling and powerful performance as the White Witch. Swinton captures the icy and malevolent nature of the character, making her a formidable adversary for the Pevensie siblings. Liam Neeson lends his voice to Aslan, the wise and noble lion who serves as a guardian and savior in Narnia. Neeson's deep and commanding voice brings gravitas to the character. The cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe also includes notable performances from James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus, the kind-hearted faun, and Jim Broadbent as Professor Kirke, the enigmatic mentor figure for the Pevensie children. The ensemble cast successfully brings the enchanting world of Narnia to life and immerses viewers in a magical adventure. Overall, the cast of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe delivers captivating performances that enhance the storytelling and transport audiences to the beloved world of Narnia..

Reviews for "From unknown actors to household names: The breakout stars of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"

1. John - 1 star

I found the cast in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" to be completely underwhelming. The main characters lacked depth and failed to bring the emotion and excitement that I expected from this highly anticipated film. In particular, the performances of the child actors felt stiff and forced, leaving me disconnected from the story. I was truly disappointed by the lack of chemistry between the cast members, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in the film.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

The casting in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" left much to be desired. The overall ensemble felt mismatched, with some characters falling flat and others appearing completely miscast. While Tilda Swinton delivered a convincing performance as the White Witch, the rest of the cast lacked the same level of professionalism and talent. The child actors, in particular, seemed out of their depth, often delivering wooden and unconvincing performances. Overall, the casting choices took away from the potential of this fantasy adventure and left me disappointed.

3. Robert - 2 stars

I wasn't impressed with the casting in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." The actors in the film failed to bring the beloved characters to life as I had hoped. Peter's character lacked the leadership and strength that should have been portrayed, while Susan felt one-dimensional and lacking in personality. Even Aslan, the majestic lion, seemed unconvincing and uninspiring in his role. I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story due to the lackluster performances by the cast, which was ultimately a letdown for me.

4. Emily - 1 star

The casting in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" was a major disappointment. The performances felt wooden and lacking in depth, failing to captivate the audience. The child actors, in particular, were incredibly stiff and unconvincing, making it difficult to emotionally connect with the characters. I was left feeling underwhelmed by the cast's portrayal of this beloved tale, as the lack of chemistry and genuine emotion hindered the magic of the story. Overall, the casting choices made it hard for me to fully enjoy the film.

The evolution of the cast's careers after The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe