One of the biggest rumors surrounding film director Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “Narnia” movie has now been confirmed: Meryl Streep will voice Aslan.
That’s sparking accusations of “gender-bending” a character who is widely regarded as a Christ figure.
Gerwig revealed the casting in an interview with Empire, explaining why she chose the legendary actress to portray C.S. Lewis’ beloved lion – a character who is meant to be a representation of Jesus Christ in “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
Gerwig stated:
“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. 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.”
Movieguide founder Dr. Ted Baehr is sounding the alarm over Meryl Streep reportedly voicing Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “Narnia” adaptation. Baehr, who says he has close ties to C.S. Lewis’ family, reports they are “very upset” and concerned about what the change could mean for the beloved Christian allegory.
He believes the decision raises serious theological questions and says parents should pay close attention to how Aslan is portrayed.
Who is Aslan
Aslan is the Great Lion, creator, and true king of the magical world of Narnia in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. As the only character to appear in all seven books, he serves as a divine, Christ-like figure who is the son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea and the ruler of Aslan’s Country.
Key Attributes and Role
- Creator and King: Aslan sang Narnia into existence, endowed animals with speech, and rules as the benevolent but dangerous sovereign of the land.
- Sacrifice and Resurrection: In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, he sacrifices himself to save Edmund Pevensie on the Stone Table, only to be resurrected by the Deeper Magic and defeat the White Witch.
- Divine Power: He possesses immense magical abilities, including healing, shapeshifting (appearing as a lamb or other forms), and the power to end Narnia itself.
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven high-fantasy novels written by British author C. S. Lewis between 1949 and 1954. The stories are set in the magical realm of Narnia, where talking animals, mythical creatures, and magic coexist, and follow various children from the real world who are transported to this land to aid the great lion Aslan in battles against evil forces like the White Witch.
The series is renowned for its Christian allegories, with Aslan symbolizing Jesus Christ and the narrative exploring themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil. The books were originally published between 1950 and 1956 and have sold over 120 million copies in 47 languages, becoming a classic of children’s literature that has been adapted into films, radio plays, and stage productions.
The seven books are:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
- Prince Caspian (1951)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
- The Silver Chair (1953)
- The Horse and His Boy (1954)
- The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
- The Last Battle (1956)
