It feels like a lifetime ago that we first saw those four kids tumble out of a piece of furniture and into a blizzard. Honestly, when The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe hit theaters in 2005, it wasn't just another fantasy movie. It was a massive cultural moment. Walden Media and Disney were trying to find the next Lord of the Rings, and for a second there, they actually did. But if you look back at the Narnia Lion Witch and the Wardrobe cast today, you realize just how much the industry—and the actors themselves—has shifted since we first met the Pevensie siblings.
Most of them were just children when they were cast by Pippa Hall. They weren't "nepo babies" or established child stars; they were mostly regular kids who happened to fit C.S. Lewis’s archetypes perfectly. Some stayed in the spotlight. Others basically vanished from Hollywood to live quiet, normal lives.
The High King and the Heartthrob: William Moseley
William Moseley was 18 playing a 13-year-old Peter Pevensie, which is a classic Hollywood move, but he had that "earnest older brother" energy down to a science. After the Narnia trilogy wrapped up—or rather, after the Pevensies' story concluded in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader—William didn't just fade away. He pivoted.
He spent years as Prince Liam in E!’s The Royals. It was a complete 180 from the wholesome world of Aslan. We’re talking soapy drama, scandals, and a lot of shirtless scenes. It proved he could carry a show as an adult. Since then, he’s popped up in various indie films and action roles, like Slayer and Artemis Fowl. He’s stayed working, which is more than most child actors can say. He’s got this rugged, British leading-man thing going on now, which is a far cry from the kid holding a silver sword in a snowy forest.
Anna Popplewell: From Susan Pevensie to Period Drama Royalty
Anna Popplewell was always the "sensible" one as Susan. Interestingly, her career followed a very deliberate, academic path. She didn't let the Narnia fame swallow her whole. Instead, she went to Oxford University to study English Literature while she was still a working actress. That’s a huge feat.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you probably recognized her immediately in Reign. She played Lady Lola for years. More recently, she stepped into the horror genre with The Nun II. Anna has this incredibly poised, intelligent screen presence that makes her perfect for period pieces. She’s often talked about how Susan was "left out" of the later Narnia books because she grew up and became interested in "nylons and lipstick," a plot point that has sparked endless debates among Narnia fans. Anna herself has handled the legacy of that character with a lot of grace, acknowledging that while Susan's ending is controversial, the experience of filming the first movie was a foundational part of her life.
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Skandar Keynes: The Actor Who Just... Quit
Skandar Keynes is the most fascinating member of the Narnia Lion Witch and the Wardrobe cast because he basically looked at Hollywood and said, "No thanks."
He played Edmund Pevensie, the traitor-turned-hero who probably had the best character arc in the whole franchise. Edmund was complex. He was annoying, he was greedy for Turkish Delight, and then he was incredibly brave. You’d think Skandar would have had a massive career ahead of him. Instead, he retired from acting almost immediately after the third film.
He went to Cambridge. He studied Arabic and Middle Eastern History. Then, he went into politics. He worked as a parliamentary adviser in the UK. It’s wild to think that the guy who was knighted by a CGI lion is now navigating the hallways of British government. You won't find him on Instagram promoting a new Netflix series. He’s completely out of the game, and honestly, there's something deeply respectable about that. He did the thing, saw the world, and then chose a different path.
Tilda Swinton and the Power of the Villains
While the kids were the heart of the movie, the heavy lifters were the adults. Tilda Swinton as the White Witch? Pure genius. She didn't play Jadis as a screaming hag; she played her as a cold, colonialist ice queen. It was terrifying.
Tilda was already an icon, but Narnia introduced her to a massive global audience. Since 2005, she’s won an Oscar, joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the Ancient One, and become the ultimate muse for directors like Wes Anderson and Luca Guadagnino. She is the gold standard for "prestige" acting.
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Then you have James McAvoy. Most people forget he was Mr. Tumnus! He was the faun who kidnapped/saved Lucy. At the time, McAvoy was a rising star in the UK, but Narnia was his springboard. Soon after, he was in Atonement, then he became the young Charles Xavier in X-Men. Looking back at him in those furry legs and prosthetic ears is hilarious considering he’s now one of the most respected dramatic actors of his generation.
Georgie Henley: The Soul of Narnia
Then there’s Lucy. Georgie Henley was only seven or eight when she was cast. Her reaction to seeing the snow for the first time in the movie? That was real. Director Andrew Adamson didn't show her the set until the cameras were rolling. That wide-eyed wonder wasn't acting; it was a child seeing a winter wonderland built inside a soundstage.
Georgie, like Anna, prioritized education, going to Cambridge. She’s also a writer and a director now. She’s been very open about the struggles of being a child star, specifically regarding body image and the pressure of the public eye. She’s done some great work in The Spanish Princess and has stayed active in the London theater scene. She’s incredibly sharp and uses her platform to talk about poetry and feminism. She’s exactly who you’d hope Lucy Pevensie would grow up to be.
Why This Specific Cast Worked So Well
There was a chemistry in the Narnia Lion Witch and the Wardrobe cast that felt like a real family. They fought, they looked out for each other, and they were all equally overwhelmed by the scale of the production.
- Liam Neeson as Aslan: His voice provided the literal and figurative weight the movie needed.
- Jim Broadbent: As Professor Kirke, he brought a whimsical, "don't-question-magic" vibe that grounded the early scenes in England.
- The Voice Work: Ray Winstone and Dawn French as Mr. and Mrs. Beaver? That was inspired casting that added a bit of gritty, British humor to a story that could have been too saccharine.
The production was massive. They filmed in New Zealand and the Czech Republic. The costumes were intricate. But without the Pevensie kids feeling "real," the whole thing would have collapsed under the weight of the CGI.
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The C.S. Lewis Legacy and Future Reboots
It’s worth mentioning that Narnia is in a weird spot right now. Greta Gerwig is reportedly working on a new adaptation for Netflix. This means a whole new Narnia Lion Witch and the Wardrobe cast is coming. It’s going to be hard for people who grew up with the 2005 version to accept anyone else as Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.
The 2005 film arrived at the tail end of the "practical effects" era. Yes, there was plenty of CGI, but the sets were physical. The costumes were heavy. You can feel that tactile quality when you watch it today. Modern reboots often feel too "clean" or digital, so there’s a lot of pressure on the next generation of actors to capture that same lightning in a bottle.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to dive back into the world of Narnia, there are a few things you should actually check out beyond just re-watching the movie on Disney+.
First, look for the "making-of" documentaries. The behind-the-scenes footage of how they turned Tilda Swinton into the White Witch using actual pieces of ice-inspired lace is mind-blowing.
Second, if you're a fan of the actors, follow Georgie Henley’s literary work. She’s a published poet and has a very unique voice that is totally separate from her "Lucy" persona.
Finally, keep an eye on the Netflix production updates. While the 2005 cast will always be the "original" for many of us, seeing how a director like Gerwig interprets Lewis’s world will be the biggest fantasy event of the next few years. It’ll be interesting to see if they cast unknowns again or go for established child actors.
The 2005 cast proved that you don't need a roster of superstars to make a masterpiece. You just need the right people in the right roles, a bit of snow, and a very large wardrobe.