'Blasphemous’: Meryl Streep as Aslan Ignites ‘Narnia’ Casting Controversy
In a surprising move, legendary actress Meryl Streep has been cast as Asian the Lion in the upcoming film, "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew," directed by Greta Gerwig.
Gerwig, who has directed the 2023 hit movie, "Barbie," shared the news of Streep’s casting with Empire Magazine.
“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight. 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. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one,” Greta Gerwig.
"The Magician’s Nephew," written by Christian author and apologist C.S. Lewis, is the first entry in his beloved children’s book series, "The Chronicles of Narnia." The book follows two characters, Digory and Polly, as they stumble upon the magical world of Narnia, created by Aslan the Lion, who is often seen as a metaphor for Jesus Christ.
While Gerwig seemed to know exactly who she wanted to play Aslan, others were not so thrilled with the surprising casting choice. In fact, many people were incredibly upset with Streep having been selected to provide the voice of the beloved fictional character.
One person on X/Twitter referred to Streep's casting as "a slap in the face to the genius of Lewis."
"To cast Meryl Street as Aslan in Greta Gerwig's Narnia is a slap in the face to the genius of Lewis, but also a deliberate mockery of Christianity that is 100% intentional. So deeply disappointing," she wrote.
Someone else posted on the popular social media platform that casting Street in the upcoming film is "profaning Christ with the divine feminine."
Someone else who was beyond outraged by the casting of an actress to voice a fictional character in a movie called Streep's selection "blasphemous."
"Not only is Aslan decidedly male, he is explicitly a representation of Christ in the lore of the Chronicles of Narnia," he added.
"This is stupid. Meryl Streep is amazing, but Aslan is a male, and it actually really matters in Narnia," another user posted.
Another person who did not seem thoroughly furious by the news of Streep's casting but seemed to believe there was another, much better choice that Gerwig could have and should have made when it came to Aslan.
"Why would you cast Meryl Streep when Morgan Freeman is the obvious and perfect choice to voice Aslan?" he wrote.
Regarding her vision for the film, Gerwig said it would be “big and transporting” and feel like a “rock opera.”
“David Bowie saved my life. Paul McCartney saved my life. David Gilmour saved my life. Pete Townshend saved my life. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant…” she said. “When I heard their music, I had this deep sense of [thinking], ‘You’re gonna be okay.’”
Gerwig also added, “Narnia is literally a world made out of music,” she explains. “It is a world sung to life by Aslan, and rock ’n’ roll to me felt like a world made out of music.”
According to Brit + Co, other cast members announced for the film are David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, who are believed to be playing Digory and Polly, with Emma Mackey as Jadis, before she becomes the antagonist White Witch. Carey Mulligan and Daniel Craig are also in the film, according to IMDB.
"The Magician's Nephew" is set to release in theaters on Feb. 12, 2027, and will later be available on Netflix on April 2, 2027.
Photo Credit: ©Jason Mendez/Getty Images for CPJ
Originally published September 21, 2026.
