Narnia Movie’s Meryl Streep Casting Causes Controversy Over Aslan Gender Swap

Meryl Streep’s potential casting as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia is causing some controversy.

Just the other day, I came across some buzz in the gaming world about Meryl Streep potentially stepping into the role of Aslan the Majestic Lion for an upcoming Netflix movie on Narnia that Greta Gerwig is developing. However, it’s important to note that there hasn’t been any official confirmation yet as we were still far from the offer stage when Deadline dropped this news. So, for now, we’ll just have to wait and see!

According to the books, I come across a talking lion named Aslan who’s like the protector and mentor of Narnia for human kids. Mostly presented as male, Aslan was crafted by author C.S. Lewis as an allegory representing Jesus.

According to reports, the upcoming film is said to be based on Lewis’ “The Magician’s Nephew,” which is the sixth book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Interestingly, it seems that this story occurs before “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” and all subsequent novels in the series, but at this point, this has not been officially confirmed.

Why is Meryl Streep’s potential Narnia casting causing controversy?

Some readers of Lewis’ books are currently displeased with the possibility of Meryl Streep being cast. Aaron Earls expressed this sentiment at The Wardrobe Door, stating, “Making such a choice would be regrettable for every conceivable reason…Art shouldn’t be decided by popular opinion, but adaptations of previously written works should prioritize the original material. Greta Gerwig and Netflix are free to create a film series based on a fantasy realm governed by a female lion, but that’s no longer C.S. Lewis’ Narnia.

Others on X have questioned whether or not Aslan will still have a mane if portrayed by Streep.

In my perspective as a fan, I wholeheartedly agree with Claire Allfree’s viewpoint, as expressed in The Telegraph. She beautifully articulates that Meryl Streep’s casting as Aslan is commendable. After all, Aslan isn’t a literal representation of Christ in the Narnia Chronicles, but rather an imaginative interpretation aligned with Lewis’s creative vision for Narnia. Within the boundaries of Lewis’s thought experiment, there’s room for Aslan to evolve and take on new forms.

Others have also chimed in supporting Streep’s casting:

In a thrilling turn of events, I fondly recall Liam Neeson lending his voice to the majestic Aslan in the enchanting Narnia films that graced our screens from 2005 through 2010. Yet, the magic continues as Gerwig’s Narnia is set for a grand IMAX debut on Thanksgiving in 2026, followed by its streaming premiere on Netflix this Christmas!

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2025-04-08 22:41