Meryl Streep will voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig's new "Narnia" adaptation, and the surprising casting has divided fans online. The ‘Narnia’ Fans Erupt Over Meryl Streep Reportedly Voicing Aslan: ‘Makes No Sense’ first appeared on The Blast

Greta Gerwig‘s “Chronicles of Narnia” adaptation is drawing online backlash from fans, with Meryl Streep‘s casting as Aslan at the center of the debate. Some longtime fans of C.S. Lewis’ books aren’t happy with the unexpected choice.

Gerwig, meanwhile, has defended her choice and explained why Streep best fits her vision of the iconic lion.

‘Narnia’ Fans Slam Meryl Streep’s Reported Aslan Casting

Aslan has always been one of the most recognizable figures in C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia,” but Greta Gerwig is giving the beloved lion a surprising new voice.

Meryl Streep will take on the iconic role in the filmmaker’s upcoming adaptation, a casting decision that has quickly divided fans online. For some, the sticking point is simple: Lewis wrote Aslan as male.

News of Streep’s reported casting prompted some social media users to accuse the new adaptation of straying too far from Lewis’ books. “This makes no sense. Aslan has a mane, because he is a male lion,” one critic wrote on X. Another called the decision a “desecration of the work” and pushed the hashtag “#MakeAslanMaleAgain.”

Others focused on Aslan’s religious significance. The lion is widely understood as a Christ figure within Lewis’ Christian allegory, something several critics cited while objecting to the reported change. One particularly frustrated fan branded the move “subversive trash,” while another predicted the adaptation would be a “dumpster fire.”

Why Greta Gerwig Chose Meryl Streep To Voice Aslan

The casting news was officially confirmed Thursday as Empire unveiled its world-exclusive look at “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.” The magazine’s November cover offered the first glimpse of Gerwig’s Aslan and revealed Streep as the character’s voice.

Gerwig also explained exactly what she wanted from the role. She told Empire she needed an actor who could bring “depth and pathos” alongside “joy and delight” to the character.

Age also played a part in her search. Gerwig specifically wanted someone over 70 who could bring decades of experience while retaining a childlike sense of wonder. One more requirement was acting pedigree. “And also, to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it,” Gerwig said. “That list is not a long one.”

“The Magician’s Nephew” marks Gerwig and Streep’s latest collaboration after 2019’s “Little Women.” The film also stars Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, David McKenna, and Beatrice Campbell.

• Streep was “exactly what Martin Short” needed amid the grief of his daughter’s passing.
• How Don Gummer feels about the actress’s romance with Short.
• Streep and Short left friends without a doubt that they “are in love.“
• Her legacy also recently came under scrutiny.
• Goldie Hawn was reportedly “stung” by Streep’s truth bomb about her.
• How Streep got Lady Gaga to star in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Gerwig Wanted Her ‘Narnia’ To Feel Like A Rock Opera

Gerwig also explained that she initially envisioned “The Magician’s Nephew” as a “rock opera,” although the finished movie isn’t actually a musical. Instead, British rock from the 1960s and ’70s became a major influence on the fantasy epic.

The filmmaker name-checked David Bowie, Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant among the musicians who shaped her imagination.

The connection isn’t purely aesthetic, either. In Lewis’ story, Aslan sings Narnia into existence, which helped Gerwig draw a parallel between the fantasy world and rock music. “Narnia is literally a world made out of music,” she explained.

Streep Goes From Miranda Priestly To Aslan

Streep’s trip to Narnia adds another major franchise to an already busy year for the Hollywood veteran.

The 77-year-old recently returned as Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” nearly two decades after first playing the formidable Runway editor. As The Blast reported, she reunited with co-star Emily Blunt and fashion icon Anna Wintour at a charity wardrobe auction in New York City earlier this month.

Streep has long pushed back against the idea that Miranda is simply an imitation of Wintour. She recently described the character as “my own creation,” explaining that she never set out to replicate the former Vogue editor-in-chief.

Meryl Streep Backs Documentary About Exiled Russian Journalists

Away from fantasy and high fashion, another Streep project is tackling considerably heavier subject matter.

The Oscar winner serves as an executive producer on “My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile,” director Julia Loktev’s documentary about Russian women journalists forced to leave their country to avoid arrest.

The film follows anchors and reporters including Anna Nemzer, Irina Dolinina, and Ksenia Mironova as they build new lives outside Russia. Their journeys take them to cities including Warsaw, Hamburg, Istanbul, and New York.

The ‘Narnia’ Fans Erupt Over Meryl Streep Reportedly Voicing Aslan: ‘Makes No Sense’ first appeared on The Blast