A new casting rumor surrounding Greta Gerwig’s woke Chronicles of Narnia remake has ignited a social media firestorm.
Meryl Streep is reportedly in talks to voice Aslan in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, the first book chronologically in C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy series.
The news has sent fans into a frenzy, with many decrying what they see as a gender-swapped take on the iconic lion, traditionally interpreted as a Christ-like male figure.
Streep, 79, is the latest A-list name linked to the project, joining Daniel Craig, who is in talks to play Uncle Andrew, and pop star Charli XCX, rumored to take on the role of Jadis, the White Witch, per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline.
But it’s Streep’s potential casting that has sparked the most backlash.
One fan put it bluntly: ‘I love Meryl Streep, but why are they gender-swapping Aslan?’
A new casting rumor surrounding Greta Gerwig ’s woke Chronicles of Narnia remake has ignited a social media firestorm
Meryl Streep is reportedly in talks to voice Aslan in Netflix ’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, the first book chronologically in C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy series; (seen in 2024)
Another quipped, ‘Who’s playing the Ice Queen, Brad Pitt?’
Others balked at the idea of a male lion with a female voice, with one user griping, ‘Why would a MALE LION (with a mane) have a female voice???’
Given Aslan’s widely accepted role as a Christ figure, critics took aim at Hollywood’s perceived agenda.
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‘Hollywood hates Christ. I’m tired of it,’ one person fumed.
Another took it further, posing, ‘What if we made the embodiment of Christ female and gay?’
The film is already facing scrutiny over concerns that Gerwig’s adaptation will take a ‘woke’ approach to the classic.
‘In Narnia, Aslan is literally Jesus’ himself. They finally starting to make bible, woke. Lol,’ posted an X user.
Some fans remain wary of Gerwig’s involvement, given her history of reimagining beloved works.
The news has sent fans into a frenzy, with many decrying what they see as a gender-swapped take on the iconic lion, traditionally interpreted as a Christ-like male figure
One fan put it bluntly: ‘I love Meryl Streep, but why are they gender-swapping Aslan?’
The film is already facing scrutiny over concerns that Gerwig’s adaptation will take a ‘ woke ’ approach to the classic; (Gerwig in 2023)
Disney previously attempted to turn The Chronicles of Narnia into a blockbuster franchise, releasing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and two sequels before abandoning the series due to declining box office returns
‘Noooooooo … why do I struggle mightily with the thought of Gerwig directing a film that is explicitly Christian?’ one person lamented. ‘In Little Women, she sucked the religion out of the movie.’
Another waxed on, ‘They’re getting Gerwig to ruin another classic character? Eyeroll. But instead of just turning Barbie, a plastic doll, into a misandrist, this time around it’s turning the personification of Jesus into a woman. Unsurprising. I’m sure it’ll work out well for them.’
Back in 2018, Netflix announced plans to develop a fresh slate of films and series based on C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.
Gerwig officially joined the project in 2020, signing on to adapt and direct the first installment.
As previously reported, the film is set for a special two-week global IMAX run over Thanksgiving 2026 before making its way to the streaming platform.
Disney previously attempted to turn The Chronicles of Narnia into a blockbuster franchise, releasing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and two sequels before abandoning the series due to declining box office returns.
Gerwig, fresh off the mᴀssive success of Barbie and Little Women, is known for putting her own spin on literary classics—but whether her vision for Narnia will win over longtime fans remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Streep recently made waves in Only Murders in the Building but hasn’t taken on a big-screen role since Don’t Look Up in 2021.
