The newChronicles of Narniamovie’s White Witch actress is the closest Greta Gerwig could get to fulfilling a popular fancast. AfterLady Bird,Little Women, and the blockbusterBarbiemovie,Greta Gerwig is heading to Narniafor her next project. The film will reportedly adapt the sixth novel in C.S. Lewis' series,The Magician’s Nephew, with a cast that includes Meryl Streep as Aslan, Daniel Craig as Digory’s uncle Andrew, and Carey Mulligan as Digory’s mother Mabel.
Though it was initially reported that Charli XCX was being eyed for the role,Emma Mackey is playing Jadis the White Witch in Gerwig’sNarniamovie, reuniting the actress and director afterBarbie. Previously played by Tilda Swinton in Disney’s film adaptations, the White Witch is the primary antagonist inThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the firstbook inThe Chronicles of Narnia. She is also featured inThe Magician’s Nephew, which reveals her origins as she is unleashed into London during the turn of the 20th century.
Margot Robbie Was A Popular Suggestion To Play The White Witch In Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Movies
Because Of Their History & The Star Power She’d Bring to The Project
Margot Robbie as the White Witch was a popularfancast for Greta Gerwig’sNarniamoviedue to their successful collaboration onBarbie. Robbie was perfectly cast by Gerwig in the role of the titular doll, and theBarbiemovie ended up becoming a billion-dollar box office success, with Robbie being narrowly snubbed for an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Afterward,fans anticipated a reunion inNarnia, which felt like a natural next step in their creative partnership.
With Swinton leaving behind an iconic portrayal of the White Witch, Gerwig needed a star with an undeniable screen presence to reinvent the villain.Robbie’s A-list status made her a natural fit, especially under Gerwig’s direction, where she has proven to thrive. AlthoughRobbie rarely plays villains, her chaotic turn as Harley Quinn showed she can dive into morally ambiguous roles with flair. Fans believed she would have brought the perfect blend of elegance and edge to the White Witch.
Emma Mackey’s White Witch Casting Is Better After The Margot Robbie Fancasts
They Look Alike
Emma Mackey’s casting as the White Witch feels like a natural progression of the Margot Robbie fancasts.There has been a long-running joke online that Mackey looks like Robbie, and she was seemingly cast asPhysicist Barbie in the moviebecause of that fact, which sparked more online jokes and side-by-side memes duringBarbie’s press tour. So even though theNarniamovie couldn’t get Robbie, it got the next best thing: a lookalike, who also has a history with Gerwig.
While Robbie may have been the dream casting for the White Witch,Mackey is the inspired reality. Not only does she share an eerie resemblance to Robbie, but she is also a proficient actress, as proven by her breakoutrole inSex Education. Gerwig was already familiar with Mackey’s talents fromBarbie, and their choice to reunite in theNarniamovie suggests it will be another successful collaboration.
Emma Mackey Is A More Exciting White Witch Casting Choice Than Margot Robbie
She Brings An Element Of Unpredictability
What makes Mackey a more exciting casting choice than Robbie is theelement of surprise.Robbie’s take on the White Witchwould likely have been remarkable, but also relatively predictable given her past roles and star persona. Mackey, on the other hand, is still in the process of defining her screen identity. This uncertainty should allow her White Witch to feel fresh and unpredictable.
By leaning into Mackey’s resemblance to Robbie while also allowing her to forge her own path, Gerwig has turned a joke into a stroke of casting brilliance.
Gerwig’s choice to go with someone less expected shows a desire to reframe the role entirely, which is far more exciting. In many ways, casting Mackey is the smarter, more subversive move. Robbie may have brought star power, butMackey’s lesser-known status gives Gerwig more creative freedomto reshape the White Witch without audience expectations weighing too heavily.
It’s a casting decision that reflects Gerwig’s tendency to zig when others zag, much likereimagining Barbie as a feminist odyssey. By leaning into Mackey’s resemblance to Robbie while also allowing her to forge her own path, Gerwig has turned a joke into a stroke of casting brilliance.
