How Greta Gerwig Finally Persuaded Led Zeppelin to License ‘Stairway to Heaven’
Director Greta Gerwig has revealed the process behind securing Led Zeppelin’s iconic 1971 track “Stairway to Heaven” for the trailer of her upcoming film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew. The movie, scheduled for release on Feb. 12, boasts an ensemble cast including Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep.
Connecting the Song to the Story
Speaking in a conversation with Stephen Colbert, Gerwig explained why she felt the track was essential for introducing her project to the world. Describing the piece as an epic narrative about a spiritual journey, she noted that the composition aligns directly with the thematic core of the film.
“It’s a narrative. It’s about a spiritual journey,” Gerwig said. “It’s about the true path of enlightenment and spirituality, and then this path of false idols and the wrong roads you can go down. And I was like, ‘This is exactly the story of this movie.’ It really is a spiritual quest and a spiritual journey.”
Aside from Led Zeppelin, Gerwig cited other musical touchstones for the production—which she described as a “world made out of music”—including David Bowie and Todd Rundgren.
Screening the Film for Page and Plant
Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have notoriously guarded their catalog, historically refusing all requests to license “Stairway to Heaven” for use in media. To overcome this hurdle, Gerwig took a direct approach by sharing an early cut of the film with the musicians.
“They had not let it be used in anything,” Gerwig emphasized. By letting the pair view the footage and discussing the project with them, she won their approval. “I showed them and I talked to them, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and I was so moved that they allowed me to use the song. They did it because they saw the heart of the story in the film.”
Gerwig added that a shared admiration for the source material played a crucial role in the agreement, noting that Page and Plant harbor a deep reverence for author C.S. Lewis.
Jimmy Page Shares His Praise
Following the release of the extended trailer, which heavily features the classic track, Jimmy Page took to social media to share his perspective on the collaboration and his meeting with the director.
“I had the privilege of meeting Greta Gerwig, a powerhouse in the world of cinema,” Page wrote. “She is a switched-on creative, as seen by way of Little Women, Lady Bird and Barbie, and the soon-to-be-released Narnia movie. I am thrilled that she chose ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in the trailer for her film.”
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