Narnia Trailer Marks First Major Film Use of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'
The trailer for Narnia: The Magician's Nephew includes portions of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven,' marking its first prominent placement in a major motion picture. Led Zeppelin had previously declined licensing requests, which affected the home release of Wayne's World and a scene in Almost Famous. The preview features the guitar intro, the bridge, Robert Plant's closing line, and Jimmy Page's solo.
Led Zeppelin had long resisted placing “Stairway to Heaven” in narrative films. Earlier attempts included Wayne’s World, whose home versions swapped out the brief guitar phrase and undermined its in-joke, and Almost Famous, where a planned scene was removed after licensing failed. A DVD later restored the sequence without the track, asking viewers to supply it themselves.
The band has not blocked all film uses. Their concert documentary The Song Remains the Same featured the song, and a 2022 Wayne’s World Blu-ray restored its short opening phrase. Other Zeppelin cuts appeared in Thor: Ragnarok, Argo, and Almost Famous. Robert Plant is a known admirer of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, whose works influenced his lyrics.
The trailer’s use could signal a shift in how older, closely guarded catalogues are licensed for fantasy adaptations. Film music supervisors and directors may see new precedent, while longtime rock fans and Narnia audiences could experience the song through a new narrative frame. It may also intensify interest in Led Zeppelin’s soundtrack legacy, though the band’s future licensing choices remain uncertain.