“It’s an Adventure”: Emma MacKey Finally Confirms Her Casting in Big Netflix Fantasy Saga [Exclusive]

MacKey is currently starring in Ella McCay, a political comedy drama from James L. Brooks in which she stars with industry veterans Jamie Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson, Spike Fearn, Ayo Edebiri, Rebecca Hall, and Brooks’ fellow The Simpsons alum, Julie Kavner. While discussing the movie with Joe Deckelmeier, he asked about her involvement in the Narnia project. This is what she had to say:

MovieWeb: You’re reportedly stepping into the role, into Narnia as the White Witch, with Greta Gerwig; that’s huge. What can you tease a from that? Is there any difference that we’re going to see from previous iterations?

Emma Mackey: Well, there’s zilch I can tell you about it other than it’s a wonderful, wonderful process so far, and it’s an adventure. And Greta is someone that I have immense respect for, and who’s a friend and a life force. And I’m just very fortunate to be on one of her sets. Truly.

Emma MacKey Has Become One of Hollywood’s Brightest Young Stars

20th Century Studios /Courtesy Everett Collection

Emma MacKey has only been on screens for six years, yet in that time she has gone from complete unknown to a BAFTA-winning, in demand Hollywood star. In 2019, MacKey appeared in Netflix’s Sex Education as Maeve Wiley, the on-off love interest of Asa Butterfield’s Otis Milburn, and that set her on an immediate path to stardom.

In 2022, she appeared in the Kenneth Branagh-led Agatha Christie adaptation, Death on the Nile, played Emily Brontë in the biographical drama, Emily, and then, in 2023, joined the biggest movie of the year as part of the Barbie cast. Following low-key lead roles in the drama Hot Milk and French body-horror, Alpha, MacKey’s roles in Ella McCay and Narnia will be followed by J.J. Abrams’ fantasy Ghostwriter, in which she stars with Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, and Samuel L. Jackson.

With MacKey’s role in Netflix’s Narnia saga likely to continue in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the actress is certainly going to be busy in the next few years. Where she goes beyond that seems to be unwritten right now, but it will not be too long before her next roles are added to her already busy slate.

All four seasons of Sex Education are available to stream on Netflix for those who have not seen where it all began for MacKey, while Ella McCay opens in cinemas on December 12, 2025.

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Release Date

December 12, 2025

Director

James L. Brooks

Writers

James L. Brooks

Producers

Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai