Greta Gerwig secures rare use of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for ‘Narnia’ trailer

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has approved the use of the band's iconic song “Stairway to Heaven” in the trailer for the upcoming “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew”, marking a rare licensing exception for the legendary rock group.

Originally released in 1971 on Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth studio album, the classic track has been reworked for the trailer of the Netflix adaptation of C S Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas in February.

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The trailer gives the song a dramatic, cinematic treatment, featuring Robert Plant’s vocals layered with reverb and Page’s celebrated guitar solo delivered with heightened intensity.

Page expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, praising Gerwig’s filmmaking credentials and creative vision.

“I had the privilege of meeting [film director] Greta Gerwig, a powerhouse in the world of cinema,” Page said. He cited her previous works, including “Little Women”, “Lady Bird” and “Barbie”, before expressing his excitement about the upcoming Narnia film.

“I am thrilled that she chose Stairway To Heaven in the trailer for her film,” he added.

According to Variety, Gerwig personally approached Page and Plant to request permission to use the song. She also shared an early version of the film with the musicians.

Explaining why the track suited the project, Gerwig described it as an epic composition centred on a spiritual journey, with themes of false idols and misguided paths. She said the song felt appropriate for introducing audiences to the world of Narnia.

Gerwig also expressed gratitude to the band for granting permission, saying she was deeply moved that they recognised the film’s central story and emotional core.

Led Zeppelin have historically been selective about licensing their music for films. The band previously declined requests to use “Stairway to Heaven” in “Wayne’s World” and “Almost Famous”.

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However, the group has permitted several of its songs to feature in more recent productions. “When the Levee Breaks” appeared in “Argo” (2012) and “The Big Short” (2015), while “Immigrant Song” featured in “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017). The band’s “Black Dog” is also set to appear in the 2026 film “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth”.