Netflix has abandoned its planned adaptation of Brian Jacques' 22-book Redwall series, with rights reverting to publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK, according to a recent report. The streamer is instead doubling down on Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, set for a theatrical release in February after a 16-year gap since the last Narnia film. The Redwall project was originally attached to screenwriter Patrick McHale, who departed in 2022 amid Netflix's animation layoffs and restructuring.

The 22-book Redwall series returns to Penguin Random House

As the source article states, Netflix had planned to adapt Brian Jacques' entire 22-book Redwall series — a beloved children's fantasy saga about anthropomorphic animals in a medieval abbey. But the streamer has since dropped the franchise entirely , and the rights have reverted to the publisher. The project never advanced past early development, despite having a completed script from Patrick McHale, co-creator of Over the Garden Wall and co-writer of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. McHale's departure in 2022, citing changes at Netflix — specifically layoffs and consolidation of their animated film structure — signaled the project's fragility.

Greta Gerwig's Narnia sets a February theatrical release — 16 years after the last film

Netflix's fantasy focus now rests squarely on Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which will be the first chapter in a planned adaptation of C.S. Lewis' series. According to the report, the film will have a proper theatrical window in February, a move aimed at capturing the excitement of viewers more than 16 years after the last Narnia film was released. This marks Netflix's most ambitious book-to-screen fantasy project to date, with Gerwig (recently of Barbie fame) attached to direct and write. The choice suggests Netflix is prioritizing a high-profile, proven IP with broad audience recognition over a more niche but culturally significant series like Redwall.

Patrick McHale's 2022 exit: a casualty of Netflix's animated layoffs

The report notes that Patrick McHale had finished his script for the Redwall adaptation before departing in 2022. His exit was directly tied to broader upheaval at Netflix's animation division, which saw layoffs and consolidation after a slowdown in subscriber growth. The streamer's decision to abandon Redwall likely stems from the same cost-cutting and strategic shift toward fewer, bigger bets — a pattern that has claimed other promising animaetd projects. McHale's involvement had raised hopes among fans of Jacques' series, but the corporate restructuring proved insurmountable.

An unanswered question: why Netflix chose Narnia over Redwall

The source article does not include official comment from Netflix or Penguin Random House about the decision, leaving a key question open: why choose one orphaned fantasy property over another? Both Redwall and Narnia have passionate fan bases, but Narnia offers a more globally recognized brand and a built-in theatrical audience. the report also omits any mention of whether other studios have expressed interest in Redwall. with the rights now back at Penguin Random House, the future of Brian Jacques' world — which has never had a major film or TV adaptation — remains uncertain. Fans are left wondering if a project with a completed script and a celebrated screenwriter can still find a home elsewhere.