You’d think after three Oscar nominations and a career defined by playing women who are perpetually one bad day away from a breakdown, Carey Mulligan would take a breather. Maybe do a lighthearted sitcom? A cozy Hallmark special? Nope. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Carey Mulligan new movie landscape, you know she’s actually doubling down on the high-stakes, "prestige" intensity that made her a household name in the first place.
Honestly, it’s a lot to track. Between a massive Netflix reboot and a stop-motion epic that’s been in the works for years, her 2026 is looking stacked.
The Big One: Narnia and the Mabel Kirke Mystery
The headline act for any Carey Mulligan new movie discussion right now has to be Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. This isn’t just another reboot. It’s a $200 million bet by Netflix to reclaim the fantasy throne. For months, rumors swirled about who Mulligan would actually be playing. People guessed everyone from a voice role for Aslan to a secret cameo as an older Susan Pevensie.
We finally have clarity.
Mulligan is playing Mabel Kirke. If you aren't a C.S. Lewis scholar, she’s the terminally ill mother of Digory Kirke. It’s a role that’s basically "Prestige Carey" personified—heart-wrenching, brief but pivotal, and likely to leave the audience in tears within the first twenty minutes. Filming has been spotted all over London and Greenwich this January, with the set transformed into 1950s England. While Emma Mackey is handling the flashy "villain" duties as Jadis (the White Witch), Mulligan provides the emotional tether that kicks the whole story off.
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It hits theaters on November 26, 2026, before moving to Netflix on Christmas Day. Mark your calendars, basically.
Why The Ballad of Wallis Island is the Sleeper Hit
While Narnia gets the clicks, The Ballad of Wallis Island is the project that actually has the industry whispering about awards. It’s a weird one, which is exactly why it works. Mulligan stars alongside Oscar Isaac, and the buzz is so strong that she’s already landed on the 2026 BAFTA longlist for Best Supporting Actress.
The plot? It’s a tonal tightrope.
- The Premise: Two eccentric musicians (Mulligan and Isaac) find themselves on a remote island.
- The Vibe: Think A Star is Born meets The Banshees of Inisherin.
- The Pedigree: It’s written by Tim Key and Tom Basden, which means the humor is going to be dry, British, and potentially devastating.
It’s easy to overlook these smaller titles when a blockbuster is in the room. Don't do that. Mulligan often does her best work when she’s trapped in a room (or on an island) with one other powerhouse actor.
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The Animated Leap in Wildwood
Then there’s Wildwood. This is the one that’s been in "post-production" for what feels like a decade. LAIKA—the geniuses behind Coraline—are finally nearing the finish line with this stop-motion fantasy. Mulligan is lending her voice to the cast, joined by Mahershala Ali and Angela Bassett.
Usually, when a big-name actor does a voice role, it's a "paycheck" gig. Not here. LAIKA moves at a glacial pace because they obsess over every frame. Mulligan's involvement suggests there’s a real, grounded character at the center of all that handcrafted moss and wood. It’s based on the novel by Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists fame), so expect something folk-heavy and atmospheric.
The Beef Connection
Kinda surprisingly, Mulligan is also jumping back into TV—or "limited series" territory, if we’re being fancy. She’s set for Season 2 of Beef. If you saw the first season with Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, you know the show is a pressure cooker of resentment.
Seeing her trade barbs with Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny is going to be a trip. It fits her brand, though. She’s built a career on characters who are polite on the surface but absolutely boiling underneath.
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What to Watch First: A Roadmap
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve, don't just wait for the trailers.
- Read the Source Material: Grab a copy of The Magician’s Nephew. It’s a quick read but gives you the full context of why her role as Mabel is the "soul" of the movie.
- Track the Festivals: Keep an eye on the Venice and Telluride lineups for The Ballad of Wallis Island. That’s where the real critical consensus will form.
- Refresh your LAIKA knowledge: Re-watch Kubo and the Two Strings to remind yourself why Wildwood is such a big deal for animation fans.
The Carey Mulligan new movie cycle is moving fast. We’re looking at a year where she handles a $200 million fantasy epic, a gritty indie dramedy, and a high-concept animation project all at once. It’s a lot, but honestly? She’s the only one who could probably pull it off without breaking a sweat. Or, more likely, she’ll make "breaking a sweat" look like high art.
To get the most out of her upcoming releases, start by watching Maestro or Promising Young Woman again to see the range she’s bringing into 2026. This isn't just a busy year; it's a career-defining pivot into "icon" status.