Aslan will remain male in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, according to new reporting addressing concerns surrounding Meryl Streep’s casting.
Although the actress’s involvement sparked speculation about changes to C.S. Lewis’s iconic lion, accounts now describe a distinctly masculine voice. Gerwig also used male pronouns when discussing Aslan during a recent promotional appearance.
That clarification answers one question surrounding the adaptation. However, casting a woman as Aslan still invites comparison with Hollywood’s growing emphasis on matching voice actors to their characters’ identities.
Reports Describe Aslan’s Voice as Clearly Male
Covering an exclusive IMAX preview event in New York, RELEVANT reported that an unnamed person involved with the production had seen the film and confirmed Aslan remains male.
According to that source, Streep’s performance sounds like Aslan rather than her recognizable speaking voice. The outlet also noted that Gerwig consistently referred to the character as “he” during her conversation with Stephen Colbert.
Stephen Colbert and Greta Gerwig – The Playlist, YouTube
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However, attendees did not hear that performance in the trailer shown at the event, which gives Aslan no dialogue. The description of his voice came from the outlet’s source.
NarniaWeb subsequently reported receiving several independent accounts describing Streep’s performance as deep and gravelly. Whether digital processing contributes to that sound remains unconfirmed.
For readers concerned about changes to a central figure in Lewis’s Christian fantasy, these reports offer some reassurance. Audiences still await the opportunity to hear the performance themselves.
What Gerwig Wanted When Casting Aslan
Casting the voice of Lewis’s literary depiction of Jesus Christ was always likely to attract scrutiny. Choosing a woman for that role made controversy especially predictable.
Gerwig previously explained her casting priorities in an interview with Empire, excerpted by NarniaWeb.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe – Disney+
Liam Neeson previously voiced Aslan in three Narnia films, establishing a familiar interpretation for moviegoers. Some online commentators have suggested Anthony Hopkins or Mel Gibson as alternatives more naturally suited to the role.
Gerwig’s explanation emphasizes a performer’s emotional range, experience, and ability to embody the character. Applied consistently, that approach allows considerable freedom in voice casting.
A Different Standard for Voice Casting?
Recent industry debates have sometimes emphasized a different priority: having performers share aspects of their characters’ backgrounds.
As That Park Place previously reported, the casting director for The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender attributed replacing original voice performers to their racial backgrounds differing from those of the characters.
Race and sex raise different casting questions, and individual productions make their own decisions. Nevertheless, the comparison invites a broader question: when should a performer’s identity determine eligibility, and when should acting ability take precedence?
Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia – Netflix, YouTube
Reports that Aslan remains male address concerns about changing the character’s sex. They do not resolve the broader inconsistency in Hollywood’s approach to voice casting.
Gerwig’s defense rests on finding an actor capable of embodying a character’s qualities. If that principle justifies Streep’s casting, it should also protect established voice performers from being replaced because their identities differ from those of their characters.
How do you feel about Aslan being confirmed as male in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie, despite being voiced by Meryl Streep? Sound off and let us know!
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