Meryl Streep Aslan Casting Draws Christian Backlash
Netflix’s confirmation that Meryl Streep will voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” has drawn sharp criticism from some Christian readers who say casting a woman to voice C.S. Lewis’ male, Christlike lion departs from the books’ theology. Metro Voice has previously reported on the possibility.
The dispute followed Empire magazine’s first look at the film and Gerwig’s explanation of why she selected Streep. The director said she wanted a performer “who was profound but not pretentious” and could convey “depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.”
Gerwig said Streep’s age and range also mattered.
“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 told Empire. “And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.”
The casting prompted objections from some Christian commentators. Critics argued that Aslan is consistently presented as male and that the choice risks obscuring Lewis’ Christian intent. Lewis did not regard Aslan as a simple allegorical symbol. In a letter, he described the character as his imagined answer to what Christ might be like if He entered a world such as Narnia.
Other fans urged viewers not to assume Gerwig has changed the character’s sex. Entertainment Weekly reported that Empire used male pronouns for Aslan and that a Netflix representative pointed to that description when questioned. Women also routinely voice male characters in animation.
“The Magician’s Nephew” recounts Narnia’s creation and is the first story chronologically, although it was the sixth of seven books published. Gerwig has described her visual approach as a rock opera influenced by British musicians, including David Bowie.
Netflix lists David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan and Daniel Craig among the cast. IMAX previews are scheduled for Feb. 10, 2027, followed by a worldwide theatrical release Feb. 12 and a Netflix debut April 2.
–Alan Goforth
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