Meryl Streep Under Consideration for Aslan Role in Greta Gerwig’s Upcoming Narnia Series – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers and Brooke Mallory
4:27 PM – Monday, March 31, 2025
Reports suggest that Meryl Streep is being considered for a lead role in the forthcoming “The Chronicles of Narnia” film series. Traditionally, “Aslan,” the character she would portray, has always been played by male actors, symbolizing the “incarnation” of Jesus according to author C.S. Lewis.
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In Christian belief, incarnation signifies that God, particularly the Son of God (Jesus), became human, experiencing life as a human while retaining full divinity.
Streep is set to take on a pivotal role in the series, with “The Magician’s Nephew” being the first film in Netflix’s much-anticipated “The Chronicles of Narnia” adaptation.
Historically, Ailsa Berk, a British dancer, actress, and puppeteer, has been the only woman to voice Aslan, portraying the character through puppetry in a 1988 UK-produced miniseries.
Nexus Point News was the first to reveal this news, and if the reports prove correct, the Devil Wears Prada star will indeed take on the role of the beloved talking lion, known as Narnia’s greatest protector and a mentor to the human children.
C.S. Lewis, the renowned author who passed away on November 22nd, 1963, discussed his vision for the “Aslan” character in his work.
“If there truly existed a world like Narnia… and if Christ wanted to enter that world to save it (as He did ours), what might that look like?” C.S. Lewis mentioned in a letter dated March 5th, 1961 — as reported by CBN.
“These stories are my response. Since Narnia is inhabited by talking beasts, I imagined He would take the form of a talking beast there, just as He became a man here. I envisioned him as a lion because a) the lion is regarded as the king of all beasts; b) Christ is referred to as ‘the lion of Judah’ in the Scriptures,” he continued.
The term “Aslan” itself is derived from Turkish, meaning “lion.”
In the 1950s, Lewis, a notable Oxford professor, penned the series. He transitioned from atheism to Christianity at the age of 33, dedicating much of his life thereafter to writing.
Additionally, there were hopes among fans for Liam Neeson to reprise his role as the voice of Aslan, but it appears he was not considered for the position, disappointing many admirers.
Conservative commentators on social media have characterized the consideration of Streep for Aslan as both strategic and controversial, stating it contradicts Lewis’s representation of Christianity.
Moreover, others argue that this decision could be seen as an affront to Christians who believe that the “Jesus-like” figure should be depicted in a masculine manner, in alignment with Biblical teachings.
The films, which will be written and directed by Greta Gerwig, aim to adapt the sixth book in the series, “The Magician’s Nephew,” which is chronologically the first in the series.
This novel explores the origins of Narnia, focusing on “Digory Kirke” and “Polly Plummer,” who stumble upon the magical realm through the enchantments of Digory’s uncle.
British actor Daniel Craig is reportedly being considered for the role of Digory’s uncle, Andrew, as indicated by Deadline in March 2025. The narrative also introduces Jadis, who later becomes the White Witch, a role that may be offered to singer Charli XCX, as previously reported by Deadline.
Netflix announced in 2018 its plans to produce a new series and film adaptation of Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia,” bringing Gerwig on board in 2020 to assist with the adaptation and direction.
Production for the film is expected to commence sometime in 2025, with an anticipated theatrical release on Thanksgiving Day 2026, followed by its launch on Netflix in December 2026.
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