Greta Gerwig, director of Barbie, is reportedly planning to gender-swap Aslan—the lion who represents a Christ-like figure in C.S. Lewis’ iconic Chronicles of Narnia series—for her upcoming Netflix adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew. According to Nexus Point News, none other than Meryl Streep is in talks to voice the reimagined Aslan.
Let that sink in.
William Moseley as Peter Pevensie, Liam Neeson as Aslan, and Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), The Walt Disney Company
Netflix, in partnership with Gerwig, appears to be taking Narnia in a drastically different direction. Lewis, a devout Christian, infused his novels with unmistakable Christian allegory. Aslan, the Great Lion, is not just a guide or wise creature. He is the literal stand-in for Jesus Christ in Lewis’ fictional universe—sacrificing himself in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to atone for the sins of Edmund Pevense. He’s shaved, beaten, and ridiculed while strapped to the Stone Table where his life ends, only to rise again in a powerful allusion to The Resurrection.
Swapping the gender of Aslan doesn’t just change a character—it rewrites the spiritual heart of the entire series.
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie and Liam Neeson as Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), Walt Disney Pictures
This move, if confirmed, would mark one of the most radical reinterpretations of a beloved literary figure in recent memory. While adaptations are always subject to creative license, few stories are as steeped in religious symbolism as Narnia. Aslan isn’t just male because Lewis flipped a coin. His masculinity is intentionally tied to the Christian symbolism behind the character.
In the 2005-2010 Walden Media films, Liam Neeson voiced the lion with quiet power and authority, emphasizing Aslan’s sacrificial and redemptive role. Now, with Gerwig reportedly bringing on Meryl Streep—who hasn’t appeared in a film since 2021’s Don’t Look Up—the portrayal could pivot toward a completely different tone.
And it’s not just the casting. Reports say Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew will be the first in her two-movie Netflix deal, though Netflix apparently plans to produce eight Narnia films in total with or without her. Other names rumored to be in the cast include Daniel Craig, Charli XCX, and Saoirse Ronan.
Liam Neeson as Aslan and Tilda Swinton as White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), The Walt Disney Company
Streep, a 21-time Oscar nominee, has lately been focused on television work, most notably appearing in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. She’s also rumored to play Joni Mitchell in a still-uncertain Cameron Crowe biopic. But playing Aslan would be something else entirely—and in this case, something controversial.
Make no mistake: changing Aslan’s gender, especially under the direction of someone whose last project was the aggressively feminist Barbie, will be seen by many as a deliberate act of ideological reimagining. To swap the gender of such an overt Christ allegory in a beloved Christian fantasy series isn’t just revision—it’s provocation.
If Gerwig and Netflix proceed with this casting, they may be inviting a storm of criticism from longtime fans, faith-based audiences, and even casual viewers who simply want faithful adaptations.
Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe – Disney+
The backlash over Meryl Streep as Aslan may not wait until 2026, when the film is scheduled for a Thanksgiving theatrical release followed by a December Netflix premiere. If these rumors are true, it’s only a matter of time before the outrage builds.
Because this isn’t just about a lion. It’s about the soul of Narnia—and whether Netflix is preparing to tear it apart in the name of modern rebranding.
What do you think about Gerwig casting Aslan as Meryl Streep? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
