Meryl Streep’s casting as Aslan in Narnia is ‘blasphemous’, say angry Christians
Meryl Streep (Getty Images)
Meryl Streep has been cast to voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Netflix film Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, prompting online backlash from some Christian commentators who said the decision is “blasphemous”
Streep, 77, will voice the mythical talking lion in the new adaptation, which Gerwig is writing and directing. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on 12 February, 2027, before landing on Netflix on 2 April, 2027.
The casting has drawn criticism on social media from some users who point to the Christian symbolism often associated with Aslan in CS Lewis’s books.
Political commentator Isabel Brown wrote on X: “In case there’s ANY confusion, CS Lewis literally intended Aslan to be the incarnation of Christ inside the world of Narnia.”
She added: “Aslan is more than an allegory for Christ, he is how the creatures of Narnia experience Christ in their world just as we experience Jesus Christ as an incarnate MAN in ours.”
Meanwhile, one disgruntled social media user added: “Dear Meryl Streep. I have watched your films and loved your talent for 40 years. Please do not do this. They are using you and your good name to blaspheme Christians.”
Another said: “Bold decision but the type that could destroy buzz for a story with a strong Christian influence. Feels very Snow White-esque. Why does Hollywood keep doing this?”
And someone else wrote: “This is insane. It’s a male lion, the king of beasts and it parallels Christ. This completely changes the story. This movie is DOA!”
Aslan is usually depicted as a male lion, as lionesses do not have the same big, fluffy mane. However, lion’s can’t actually talk, so who knows what they’d sound like if they could?
What Greta Gerwig said about casting Aslan
Gerwig discussed the decision with Empire, explaining she was looking for a specific quality in the actor behind the character.
“I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child,” she said.
“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” Gerwig continued. “Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.” She also said David Bowie was an inspiration behind her version of Aslan and the film.
Narnia’s big-screen history
The previous Narnia film trilogy ran from 2005 to 2010, with Liam Neeson voicing Aslan. Those films grossed around $1.5billion globally.
Gerwig’s film adapts The Magician’s Nephew, the first ever adaptation of Lewis’s sixth book, which is more of an origin story if read in chronological order. The wider series spans seven books.
Charli XCX had been rumoured to be part of the movie, but Netflix’s official announcement doesn’t include her as part of the cast or soundtrack. Instead, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt will provide the music.
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