Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Narnia Movie With Gender Swapped Aslan Delays Filming, Casting Doubt on 2026 Release

A highly controversial return to C.S. Lewis’s fantastical world has hit another snag. Netflix’s Narnia filming plans have reportedly been pushed back, despite earlier promises of a summer start. According to ScreenDaily, production on Greta Gerwig’s The Magician’s Nephew—the first of Netflix’s ambitious new adaptations—is now expected to begin in autumn, rather than July as originally scheduled.

Producer Amy Pascal had previously declared with confidence that cameras would roll this summer. A casting call seeking child actors even specified availability from June through December, fueling speculation that production was locked in. But fans closely following the reboot, particularly the dedicated sleuths over at NarniaWeb, have noticed growing signs that all is not well in the wardrobe.

Tilda Swinton as White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), The Walt Disney Company

This delay, though not officially labeled a crisis, poses a significant threat to Netflix’s already-tight timeline. The current plan is for The Magician’s Nephew to premiere in theaters via IMAX in November 2026—Netflix’s first experiment with a traditional theatrical window before bringing the film to streaming just in time for Christmas. But a seven-month filming schedule means every month counts, and the clock is ticking.

The delay isn’t the only reason fans are concerned. Greta Gerwig’s take on Narnia has already sparked major controversy over rumored changes to one of the most central and sacred characters in C.S. Lewis’s literary canon: the Great Lion Aslan. While the casting hasn’t been confirmed by Netflix, rumors persist that Meryl Streep has been tapped to play the lion—a move that, if true, would effectively gender-swap Aslan.

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

That would be more than a casting choice. Aslan is not a subtle character. He is a direct allegory for Jesus Christ—something C.S. Lewis made abundantly clear both in his books and personal letters. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan sacrifices himself in place of Edmund and then rises from the dead, conquering evil and death itself. The comparison to the Gospel is deliberate, foundational, and inseparable from the story’s moral fabric.

To cast Meryl Streep in that role—however talented she may be—is not a gender-neutral reinterpretation. It is, symbolically, a recasting of Christ Himself as a woman. That decision will undoubtedly inflame debate among Christian fans, many of whom view The Chronicles of Narnia as sacred ground. Lewis, a devout Christian, used fantasy not as an escape but as a vessel for deeper truth. Gerwig’s film risks discarding that intention entirely.

Liam Neeson as Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010), 20th Century Fox

Netflix has not publicly addressed the controversy, but the combination of creative liberties and now production setbacks is starting to feel familiar. This wouldn’t be the first time the streaming giant fumbled a major fantasy property. Previous efforts like The Witcher and Shadow and Bone struggled to maintain momentum after progressive ideologically-charged changes alienated core fans.

Casting choices for The Magician’s Nephew also include Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, and Daniel Craig, with frequent Gerwig collaborator Saoirse Ronan reportedly circling an undisclosed role. It’s a star-studded ensemble, but not even Hollywood’s biggest names can guarantee that the film will resonate with longtime fans—especially if it departs from the spiritual heart of the series.

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

With Narnia filming reportedly delayed and speculation swirling around the project’s direction, Netflix finds itself walking a precarious line. Will it honor the timeless message of Lewis’s work, or reshape it to fit modern sensibilities at the expense of its soul?

For now, production remains in limbo—and fans remain on edge.

When do you think Narnia will start filming? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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