Reports that Meryl Streep is in talks to voice Aslan the Great Lion in Greta Gerwig's upcoming Netflix adaptation of The Magician's Nephew, the first chronological story in C.S. Lewis's beloved Narnia series, has sparked fury from film fans.
The casting, reported by Nexus Point News and confirmed by Deadline, would reimagine the traditionally male character as female.
The 75-year-old Oscar winner would take on the role of the quasi-omniscient lion, who has long been interpreted as an allegory for Jesus in Lewis's Christian-themed fantasy world.
The news has already sparked debate online, with some fans questioning the decision to change the gender of such an iconic character.
Meryl Streep has been rumoured to play Aslan in Netflix's new Narnia remake
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Streep's reported casting has led to accusations of Netflix going "woke", as well as some even branding the decision as "blasphemous".
Reacting to the news on X, one user pleaded: "Dear Netflix, DO NOT DO THIS! You will regret it. Leave CS Lewis alone from your woke nonsense. The Chronicles of Narnia do not need to be 'reimagined.'"
"Narnia is a biblical story in which Aslan represents Jesus. This would be blasphemy," a second argued before a third questioned: "Is Netflix trying to lose their shareholders money? If so, that’ll do the trick."
The complaints kept coming from a fourth who fumed: "First, this makes no sense as Aslan has a large mane and only male lions have that feature. Second, Aslan is a representation of Christ who was male. I'll re-watch the Liam Neeson version, thank you very much."
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Barbie boss Greta Gerwig will helm the new Narnia project
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"I really appreciate Meryl Streep as an actress and hope this isn't definitively confirmed..." a fifth fan of the actress said before others referenced the recent box office performance of Disney's Snow White which faced similar claims of "going woke".
"You'd think Netflix would have learnt the lessons from Disney, Amazon, Sony and all the others," a sixth X user said before another asked: "What are they trying to do? Make this a bigger flop than Snow White?"
Gerwig's adaptation will focus on The Magician's Nephew, the sixth book published in Lewis's series but the first in chronological order, depicting the creation of Narnia.
The film is scheduled for an exclusive two-week IMAX global release for Thanksgiving 2026 before moving to Netflix's streaming platform at Christmas.
This marks Gerwig's first project since her blockbuster Barbie, which earned over £1.1 billion at the global box office.
Netflix acquired the rights to all seven Narnia books in 2018, with Gerwig signing on to write and direct at least two films in 2020.
The story follows children Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer who discover Narnia through Digory's uncle's magic.
The controversy stems from Aslan's portrayal in Lewis's works as a Christ-like figure, with the lion sacrificing himself to save Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe before rising again to defeat the White Witch.
Liam Neeson voiced Aslan in the noughties film series
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The Narnia series is deeply steeped in Christian symbolism, with themes of sin, temptation, punishment, sacrifice and salvation throughout.
Elsewhere, Daniel Craig is also reportedly in talks for the film, with speculation that he will play Digory's uncle Andrew, who inadvertently awakens the Witch Queen with his magic.
British pop star Charli XCX is rumoured to be in line for the role of Jadis, the White Witch.
Streep has not appeared on the big screen since her role in 2021's Don't Look Up, though rumours suggest she may return for a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada later this year.
Previous portrayals of Aslan include Ronald Pickup and David Suchet in BBC TV and radio productions of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Liam Neeson voiced the character in the three Narnia films released between 2005 and 2010.
Gerwig has previously spoken about her approach to adapting Lewis's fantasy series, expressing interest in "embracing the paradox of the worlds that Lewis created".
Dear Netflix,
— 🌷🐣Colorado Girl in Ohio 🐣 🌷 (@ColoradoOhio) March 31, 2025
DO NOT DO THIS! You will regret it.
Leave CS Lewis alone from your woke nonsense. The Chronicles of Narnia do not need to be “reimagined.” pic.twitter.com/SDG2KfILXD
"It's connected to the folklore and fairy stories of England, but it's a combination of different traditions," she explained.
"As a child, you accept the whole thing—that you're in this land of Narnia, there's fauns, and then Father Christmas shows up. It doesn't even occur to you that it's not schematic."
