SinceLady Bird, all ofGreta Gerwig’s movies have been adaptations — including her upcoming reboot ofThe Chronicles of Narnia— so after finishing her work onNarnia, she should go back to telling original stories. AfterLady Birdput her on the map as one of the most exciting new voices in filmmaking, Gerwig got the chance to adapt one of her favorite novels for the screen:Louisa May Alcott’sLittle Women. When that proved to be an even bigger box office success, she was trusted with a blockbuster budget to direct Margot Robbie’sBarbiemovie.
Barbie’s runaway box office success, becoming the highest-grossing movie of 2023, has secured Gerwig as one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. Next up, she’s adapting another one of her literary favorites —The Chronicles of Narnia— into a new franchise for Netflix. Gerwig is signed on to write and direct at least two movies in the rebooted franchise. TwoNarniamovies from Gerwigare certainly an exciting prospect, but it means she’ll have directed five movies and only one will be an original story. After spearheading Netflix’sNarniareboot, Gerwig should finally go back to original storytelling.
After Rebooting Narnia, Gerwig Should Tell Another Original Story
All Of Gerwig’s Movies Since Lady Bird Have Been Adaptations
WhenGerwig’sChronicles of Narniarebootis finished, she should go back to her roots and tell another original story likeLady Bird(and her earlier co-written screenplays,Frances HaandMistress America).Lady Birdis the last time Gerwig created her own characters and told her own story; every movie she’s directed since then has been an adaptation.Little WomenandThe Chronicles of Narniaare both attempts to translate a different writer’s work to the screen. Gerwig is passionate about these stories, but they’re ultimately not her stories.
The 2024 Oscars Continue A Great Greta Gerwig Streak Despite Her Snub
Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director for Barbie at the 2024 Oscars, but another category continues the filmmaker’s impressive streak.
There’s been some debate as to whether or notBarbieis an adaptation. There was a minor controversy whenBarbiewas submitted for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. It’s technically not based on any previous literary material, but the I.P. predates the movie. The characters of Barbie and Ken have existed in pop culture for decades, but not with the personalities that Gerwig gave them.After rebootingNarnia, Gerwig should go back and tell an original story that is unquestionably her own, with no previous source material to pin it on.
Lady Bird Is Still The Best Movie Greta Gerwig Has Directed
It’s Deeply Personal & Idiosyncratic
Every movie that Gerwig has directed has been great.Little Womennails both Alcott’s self-aware deconstruction of clichéd romance narratives and the touching emotionality of the Marches’ sisterhood, with a refreshingly modern clip subverting the usual stiffness of period pieces.Barbieis simultaneously a crowd-pleasing comedy blockbuster with a ton of absurdist laughs, and a thought-provoking meditation on existentialism. But as great as those movies are, Gerwig still has yet to top her first feature.Lady Birdis one of the greatest directorial debuts ever made;it instantly established Gerwig’s exciting, idiosyncratic voice as a filmmaker.
Lady Bird captures the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship — the good, the bad, and the ugly — more effectively and more poignantly than almost any other Hollywood production.
Lady BirdisGerwig’s most personal film. It’s not directly autobiographical, but it takes place in her hometown, it’s populated with characters who reflect the people she grew up around, and it exudes her unique personality. It perfectly balances hilarious comedic moments with heartbreaking dramatic moments.Lady Birdcaptures the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship— the good, the bad, and the ugly — more effectively and more poignantly than almost any other Hollywood production. All of Gerwig’s movies have been brilliant, but she still has yet to top her original coming-of-age masterpiece.
Gerwig’s Next Original Movie Could Be A Spiritual Sequel To Lady Bird
Gerwig Has Said She Wants To Make “A Quartet Of Sacramento Films”
If and when Gerwig returns to original storytelling, her next original movie could go back to Sacramento for a spiritual sequel toLady Bird. In February 2018, Gerwig appeared on an episode ofThe A24 PodcastwithMoonlightdirector Barry Jenkins. She said that she’s not done shooting in Sacramento afterLady Bird; she wants to make “a quartet of Sacramento films” as spiritual successors toLady Bird.This Sacramento quadrilogy would be inspired by the Neapolitan Novels of Elena Ferrante— a series of stories built around a particular location with a special place in the author’s heart.
All three of Gerwig’s directorial features have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
These spiritual sequels toLady Birdwouldn’t be direct sequels bringing back Saoirse Ronan as Christine McPherson;they would be separate stories with a similar tone and style, chronicling the lives of similar characters living in Sacramento.Lady Birdis just one perspective of Sacramento;Greta Gerwighas viewed her hometown from many different angles.Lady Birdexplored Sacramento through the eyes of a teenager who can’t wait to leave and go off to college out of state. The next one could see a successful filmmaker coming back to her hometown as an adult after years away.
Source:The A24 Podcast
Greta Gerwig
Discover the latest news and filmography for Greta Gerwig, known for Lady Bird and Little Women.
