Streep to Slay Narnia? Fans Erupt Over Aslan Casting Bombshell

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The tale initially emerged around April 1st, which made many dismiss it as an April Fool’s joke. However, it wasn’t until Deadline verified the rumors that it gained credibility.

In discussions, it seems that renowned Oscar-winning filmmaker Greta Gerwig, currently working on the Netflix adaptation of “The Chronicles of Narnia”, is considering Meryl Streep for the significant role of the majestic lion, Aslan.

Written by Christian apologist C.S. Lewis, who was a friend of renowned author J.R.R. Tolkien (known for “The Lord of the Rings”), “The Chronicles of Narnia” is one of the most popular fantasy book series for elementary school students. In the early 2000s, a trilogy of films based on Narnia raked in approximately $1.5 billion at the global box office.

In the seven Narnia books, Aslan – who is a significant and unique figure – serves as a symbolic representation of sorts for Jesus Christ, but not an exact allegory.

As an ardent film enthusiast, I find myself echoing the sentiments of many devoted fans of C.S. Lewis worldwide, who span various cultural and religious backgrounds, including those rooted in evangelicalism or other Christian denominations. However, lately, a sense of disapproval has been brewing among us.

Aaron Earls at The Wardrobe Door argued that this move would be unfavorable for every imaginable reason. He believes that the creative process shouldn’t be influenced by public opinion, but when it comes to adaptations of prior works, they should primarily reflect and amplify the essence of the original piece.

In an article named “Aslan Unmade,” Annie Crawford, a cultural advocate and educator, argues that “Changing the gender of The Lion, The King… fundamentally alters the framework and significance of Lewis’s symbolic universe.

Currently, a poll on NarniaWeb reveals that an impressive 65% of Narnia enthusiasts are now deeply worried about Netflix’s planned Narnia movie series. In response, the foremost fan site has published contact details for the film producers, encouraging supporters to voice their opinions and feedback.

Other commentators have been muted or dismissive of the growing outrage.

Lon Harris commented, “Discussing this topic is really draining. Aslan isn’t real, and he’s not like Jesus. It’s a children’s movie featuring a talking animal. Try to relax.” Kat Coffin, an expert in C.S. Lewis, countered, “As far as I’m concerned, if they keep the iconic mane, I don’t mind who plays Aslan, even Meryl Streep.

However, it’s worth noting that a large number of fans do take interest in Narnia, making it one of Netflix’s most significant franchise endeavors to date. The initial film in the series could potentially redefine how Netflix releases movies in cinemas, or choose not to.

In an unusual arrangement, The Magician’s Nephew – a prequel to Narnia, slated for release in November 2026 – will enjoy a two-week exclusive run on IMAX screens. After this, it will be globally streamed on Christmas Day. This schedule underscores the influence of both the franchise and director Gerwig amidst a busy year of high-budget film releases.

For both Netflix and the movie’s creators, there’s a tremendous amount at stake from the very start of production. If they choose to reimagine Aslan as gender-neutral, they could face strong backlash from fans, along with numerous YouTube critics branding it as “politically correct” or “woke.

Gerwig, Gordon, and the Narnia Film Team

An exceptionally talented group has come together for the newest portrayal of Narnia, and it’s hard to ignore their deep affection and dedication towards the original source.

Mark Gordon, who’s renowned for creating masterpieces such as Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot, played a key role in the gripping remake of Murder on the Orient Express. It’s important to mention that any future film projects would likely require approval from the C.S. Lewis Estate.

Mark Gordon, who made popular films like Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot, was a main producer for the exciting remake of Murder on the Orient Express. For any new movie scripts, they’d probably need permission from the C.S. Lewis Estate.

Previously, Douglas Gresham, who is C.S. Lewis’s stepson and has overseen more than a dozen adaptations of Narnia across different mediums, was initially credited as an executive producer for the films in 2018. Unfortunately, his health has deteriorated recently, and he now resides in hospice care.

Among those working on Netflix’s Narnia project are producer Amy Pascal, known for creating Sony’s successful Spider-Man series worth billions, and Netflix’s Film Chairman Dan Lin, who openly discusses his Christian beliefs and has been involved in faith-based films since joining the streaming platform last year.

However, it’s Greta Gerwig, the highly praised director, who takes center stage. Known for challenging conventions, particularly through Barbie’s narrative that champions female empowerment, her career has been exceptional. Remarkably, each of her four films—all written by her—have garnered Oscar nominations, making her a unique achiever in the industry.

The interpretation she gave for Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, praised as an accurate and stunningly beautiful retelling, may provide valuable insights into how she could adapt Narnia.

Growing up at a Catholic boarding school, Greta Gerwig expressed deep respect for The Chronicles of Narnia. She listed this series and Little Women among her most significant early inspirations.

Isn’t it only fitting that a director of such talent should have the liberty to craft her vision? One might question if it’s daring, rather than risky, for Gerwig to cast Meryl Streep, the most Oscar-nominated actress ever, for such an esteemed role.

Clash of Cultural Values

The questions highlight a clash of values in contemporary society, as the unconventional, rule-breaking American spirit embodied by Gerwig stands in stark contrast to the Oxford scholar who brought Narnia to life.

In simpler terms, Lewis expressed that everyone desires advancement. However, progress is moving closer to your desired destination. If you’re currently on the incorrect path, progress involves making a U-turn and heading towards the correct direction instead.

In the 1940s and 50s, before significant cultural changes occurred, Lewis was generally considered a conservative thinker in terms of Christian beliefs, moral values, and particularly in matters relating to marriage and sexuality.

Throughout C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series, the character Aslan is consistently referred to as he or him. The inhabitants of this fictional world often express an oath using “By the Lion’s Mane,” and in various tales, the protagonists find solace by weeping on Aslan’s mane. Interestingly, it’s quite uncommon for female lions, or lionesses, to possess a mane, as seen in real-life biology.

In the first novel of Lewis’ less popular Space Trilogy, titled Perelandra, the protagonist interacts with divine entities symbolizing masculinity and femininity, and he discusses their distinct qualities.

Lewis describes Malacandra gripping an object resembling a spear, while Perelandra kept her hands open and facing him. The novel further clarifies that physical characteristics associated with gender are merely symbolic representations.

Today, some cultural analysts might consider the concepts presented in these works as outdated. However, the personalities, struggles, aesthetics, and underlying themes of “The Chronicles of Narnia” are rooted not just in Lewis’ imaginative interpretation of folklore and fairy tales, but also in his religious beliefs and sociological perspectives.

Refrashing: Keeping Aslan as a male character, or casting a female actor to play him, might not align with the iconic image of the Lion that generations of readers have cherished.

Don’t Feed the Trolls

Regarding financial competition in the realm of television productions, it’s expected that Netflix’s Narnia film series could match up to Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, with a potential combined investment of around $3 billion for production and rights over its five-season run.

From a die-hard fan’s perspective, the take on Tolkien’s world through this TV series has sparked a range of opinions. However, it seems that season one, in particular, stumbled quite a bit – overemphasizing Galadriel as a relentless warrior and altering certain aspects of the original lore, which has left many viewers, including myself, with mixed feelings about these creative decisions.

In the opinion of many critics, season two of The Rings of Power followed more closely to the essence and intention of the original work. However, it faced a setback with significantly fewer viewers tuning in for its second release. (Having spoken with the showrunners, I encourage everyone to give the series another try.)

In a more straightforward and conversational manner: The internet debate about The Rings of Power is currently being led by opinions from Trollish critics. Some of their criticisms, such as complaints about the ethnically diverse casting of elves and dwarves, appear to be off-target. However, it’s not these race issues that have fueled the discussion, but rather a general feeling that the first episode lacked depth or substance compared to the original source material.

In this instance, it seems disrespectful or disappointing to devoted Narnia series enthusiasts when they consider Meryl Streep being considered for the role of the Son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, one of Aslan’s titles.

One intriguing point about this initial uproar, given that the movie’s formal title hasn’t been disclosed yet and production won’t start until the summer, is that discussions with Streep somehow became public knowledge.

Is a member of the team trying to prevent this mistake from occurring, with full confidence in their abilities? To quote the valiant mouse from Narnia, Reepicheep, “We rely on faith above all else.

Josh M. Shepherd, an author focusing on faith and cultural topics, resides in the heart of Florida with his loved ones, contributing to various media platforms such as Family Theater Productions.

This article originally appeared at What’s On Netflix.

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2025-04-14 05:03