It has been over two decades since we first saw four kids stumble through a dusty piece of furniture into a world of eternal winter. Honestly, looking back at The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe cast, it is wild to see how much that single film shaped the landscape of British acting. You’ve got Tilda Swinton playing a terrifying ice queen, a young James McAvoy in goat legs, and four child actors who suddenly became the most famous faces on the planet.
Director Andrew Adamson took a massive gamble. He didn't want "Hollywood" kids. He wanted real siblings who felt like they belonged in 1940s England. This wasn't just another fantasy flick; it was a cultural reset for the mid-2000s. People forget how big it was. It grossed over $745 million. It was a juggernaut.
But what actually happened to the Pevensies? When the snow melted and the cameras stopped rolling, some stayed in the spotlight while others basically walked away from the industry entirely.
The Pevensie Four: From Spare Oom to Reality
William Moseley was the oldest, Peter Pevensie. He had that classic "High King" look—golden hair, jawline for days, very earnest. Moseley actually tried out for the role of Harry Potter years earlier but lost out. Narnia was his big break. After the trilogy ended, he didn't just fade out. He pivoted to television, most notably playing Prince Liam in The Royals. He’s still working constantly, often popping up in action indies like Medieval or On the Line. He’s kept that rugged, leading-man energy, though he’s swapped the sword for more modern roles.
Then there is Anna Popplewell. She played Susan, the "logical" one. You probably remember her as the one with the bow and arrow who always seemed a bit too sensible for a magical war. Popplewell is fascinating because she actually balanced a massive film career with an education at Oxford. That’s not easy. She studied English Literature at Magdalen College while the films were still a thing. Recently, fans of the Conjuring universe might have spotted her in The Nun II. She also had a long run on Reign as Lady Lola. She has this very grounded, intellectual approach to acting that makes her performances feel incredibly lived-in.
Skandar Keynes, who played Edmund, is the one who really took a sharp left turn.
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Keynes was arguably the best actor of the four kids in the first movie. He had to play the traitor, the brat, and the redeemed hero all at once. His portrayal of a kid addicted to Turkish Delight (which, let’s be real, is a terrible candy to betray your family for) was iconic. But after the third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Skandar basically said "I'm done." He went to Cambridge. He studied Arabic and Middle Eastern History. He eventually moved into politics, working as a parliamentary adviser. It’s a rare move, but he seems way happier behind the scenes in Whitehall than he ever was on a red carpet.
And then there’s Lucy. Georgie Henley.
She was only seven or eight when they started filming. That famous scene where she first enters Narnia? That was her actual first time seeing the set. Adamson kept her blindfolded until the cameras were rolling so he could capture her genuine reaction to the snow and the lamppost. Since Narnia, Georgie has become a bit of a Renaissance woman. She writes, she directs, and she’s done some heavy-hitting stage work. She was in The Spanish Princess and has been very vocal about her struggles with health issues, specifically a rare bacterial infection she contracted as a teenager. She’s incredibly resilient.
The Icons: Tilda Swinton and the Power of the White Witch
You can't talk about The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe cast without bowing down to Tilda Swinton. She didn't play Jadis as a cartoon villain. She played her as something cold, ethereal, and genuinely predatory. Swinton insisted on not having a crown made of gold or jewels, but rather one made of ice that melted as her power faded.
That is the kind of detail an Oscar winner brings to the table.
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Supporting Stars You Totally Forgot Were There
- James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnus): Before he was Professor X or the guy with twenty personalities in Split, he was a faun. This was really his introduction to a global audience. He spent hours in the makeup chair getting those ears and horns attached.
- Liam Neeson (Aslan): He provided the voice of the Great Lion. Neeson’s gravelly, paternal tone was perfect. It’s funny because Brian Cox was originally considered for the voice, but Neeson brought a specific kind of "gentle power" that the role needed.
- Jim Broadbent (Professor Kirke): A legend. He’s the eccentric heart of the first act. He’s the one who tells the older kids that if their sister says there’s a world in the wardrobe, she’s probably not lying.
Behind the Scenes: The Voices and the Suits
There is a lot of "hidden" talent in this movie. Ray Winstone and Dawn French voiced Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Think about that. You have two of Britain’s most distinctive voices playing CGI rodents who argue about sewing machines and jam. It shouldn't work, but it does.
The physical production was handled by Weta Workshop—the same folks who did Lord of the Rings. This is why the armor looks so real. Peter’s shield and Rhindon (his sword) weren't just plastic props. They were crafted with the same level of detail as something you'd find in a museum. This elevated the cast’s performances because they weren't just standing in front of a green screen; they were holding actual weight.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
The chemistry between the four leads was lightning in a bottle. They actually liked each other. They fought like real siblings. If you watch the behind-the-scenes footage, you see William Moseley being protective of Georgie Henley in a way that isn't scripted. That translates to the screen.
Also, the age gaps were perfect.
Usually, Hollywood casts 20-somethings to play 15-year-olds. Here, they stayed pretty true to the books. It made the stakes feel higher because they actually looked like children caught in a war they didn't start.
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The Legacy of the 2005 Film
There have been rumors of a Netflix reboot for years, with Greta Gerwig reportedly attached to direct. It’s a tall order. How do you recast the White Witch? How do you find a kid who captures the wonder of Lucy Pevensie? The 2005 cast set a benchmark that is honestly intimidating.
Most people don't realize that the shoot was grueling. They filmed in New Zealand and the Czech Republic. They dealt with freezing temperatures and massive logistical nightmares. But the cast stayed tight. Even now, they occasionally post photos of "reunions" on Instagram, and the internet loses its mind every single time. It's pure nostalgia fuel.
The Impact on Their Careers
For most of the The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe cast, the film was both a blessing and a bit of a shadow. When you're "The Narnia Kid," it's hard to get people to see you as anything else.
Moseley went for the action-hero route.
Popplewell went for the period-drama route.
Henley went for the indie/creative route.
Keynes went for the "I'm going to change the world in a different way" route.
It is a healthy mix. Nobody crashed and burned in the way child stars often do. They all seem well-adjusted, which is probably the biggest success story of the whole franchise.
Actionable Steps for Narnia Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the world of the Pevensies and the actors who played them, here is how to do it without just re-watching the movie for the 50th time:
- Check out the BBC Radio Dramas: If you love the voices of the characters, the BBC did an incredible radio adaptation years ago that feels very close to the 2005 film's energy.
- Follow Georgie Henley’s Poetry: She is a published poet and often shares insights into her creative process. It gives you a great look at how she transitioned from child star to a serious artist.
- Explore the Weta Workshop Chronicles: There are books dedicated specifically to the design of the film. Reading about how the cast interacted with the practical effects (like the animatronic Aslan) changes how you see the movie.
- Watch 'The Royals' and 'The Nun II': See how Moseley and Popplewell have evolved. It’s fun to see the "High King" and "Queen Susan" playing characters that are decidedly not for children.
- Look into the C.S. Lewis Estate: If you're curious about why we haven't seen a new movie in a decade, researching the rights and the estate's involvement with Netflix gives a lot of context to the "Cast of the Future."
The 2005 film remains the gold standard for C.S. Lewis adaptations. It captured the "magic" without being cheesy, and a huge part of that was a cast that treated the material with respect rather than just another paycheck. Whether they're in Parliament or on a horror movie set, the Pevensie siblings have definitely made their mark.