Meryl Streep’s casting as the voice of Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation has prompted criticism from conservative Christian commentators before the film’s release.
Netflix’s casting of Oscar-winning actor Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” has become a point of controversy among some conservative Christian commentators.
Aslan is depicted as a male lion throughout C.S. Lewis’ seven-book Narnia series and is widely regarded as a literary representation of Jesus Christ.
Critics argue that casting a woman to voice the character raises questions about how the film will portray a central Christian symbol.
The casting itself does not establish that Aslan will be depicted as female. The production has also made other creative changes to Lewis’ work, including moving the story’s setting from around 1900 to the 1950s.
Gerwig has explained that she wanted a voice capable of combining authority, emotional depth and a sense of wonder. She said Streep matched those qualities and described her as one of the greatest actors of her generation.
Some Christian critics have nevertheless interpreted the casting as more than a conventional adaptation choice.
Seth Udinsky of the Christian Post argued that the decision represents an attempt to undermine Christian symbolism, while Movieguide founder Ted Baehr said the biblical themes associated with Narnia should not be treated simply as mythology.
Scholars Urge Caution
Not all Lewis scholars share that reaction. New York-based writer and Lewis scholar Kat Coffin said she has questions about the decision but criticized what she described as extreme opposition to the possibility of feminine characteristics being associated with a representation of God.
Christin Ditchfield Lazo, an author who writes about Lewis, also urged Christians to wait for the finished film. She noted that a woman voicing a male character does not necessarily mean the character’s gender has been changed.
The debate also comes amid broader discussion of Gerwig’s creative interpretation of Narnia. She previously directed “Barbie” and “Little Women,” films known for engaging with traditionally familiar stories through contemporary perspectives.
“The Magician’s Nephew,” published in 1955, follows Digory and Polly as they travel between parallel worlds and eventually encounter the newly created land of Narnia. Their journey also brings the evil witch Jadis into the world.
Lewis’ family and the C.S. Lewis Co., which holds intellectual property rights connected to his work, have expressed support for Gerwig and praised her enthusiasm for the Narnia universe.
The new film is scheduled for theatrical release in February. Until audiences see the finished portrayal of Aslan, it remains unclear whether Streep’s casting will correspond to any change in the character’s gender or religious symbolism.
