Meryl Streep in talks to voice female Lion of Judah in Greta Gerwig's 'The Chronicles of Narnia'

Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep was reportedly in talks to voice Aslan, the great lion of Narnia, in Greta Gerwig's upcoming adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix. According to The Guardian, Streep was offered the role, although the contract was not yet signed.

In Gerwig's adaptation, Aslan will be presented as a female character, a decision that sparked debate among fans. Some criticized this move as a "total bastardization of the source material" since Aslan is traditionally seen as an allegory for Jesus, the Lion of Judah. "Turning 'God' into a woman will surely rattle some feathers in the 'anti-woke' community, but it also certainly suits the pop culture-feminism throughline of Gerwig's work thus far," reported Firstpost.

Meryl Streep's potential casting generated excitement on social media, with many praising the choice of the actress for the role. However, the deal was not yet finalized, and Netflix might still change course. Streep, 75, is an actress with a career spanning decades and numerous accolades, including 21 Oscar nominations.

Greta Gerwig partnered with Netflix to bring C.S. Lewis's literary saga to the screen and is expected to direct at least two films in the series. The new adaptation will focus on The Magician's Nephew, the first chronological story in the Narnia universe that narrates the origin of Narnia. This marks a departure from previous adaptations, which traditionally began with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Other actors were rumored to be in talks for roles in the adaptation. Daniel Craig was considered for the role of Uncle Andrew or Professor Digory Kirke. Additionally, Charli XCX was rumored to play Jadis, the White Witch.

The premiere of the new Narnia adaptation is expected in theaters, including IMAX screenings, in 90 countries on November 26, 2026. It will be available for streaming on Netflix starting Christmas Day 2026.

Aslan, the Great Lion, serves as a guardian and mentor in the Narnia universe, generally interpreted as an allegory for Jesus. The decision to cast Meryl Streep as Aslan was met with both enthusiasm and skepticism. "It will be interesting to see how Meryl Streep approaches the role of Aslan if the agreement is finalized. Her casting is considered an inspired choice," noted Screen Rant.

However, some fans expressed concern over the gender-swapping of such a character. "The decision to cast Meryl Streep as Aslan has the potential to be catastrophic for the viability of the new franchise," argued The Collision. They noted that Aslan was intended by C.S. Lewis to be a representation of Jesus himself, and altering the character's gender might alienate core fans of the series.

Gerwig, now an A-list name in Hollywood after the success of Barbie, which earned over $1.4 billion at the global box office, is known for her takes on classic stories. Her previous collaboration with Streep in Little Women was both a critical and commercial success.

It's worth noting that Liam Neeson previously voiced Aslan in Walden Media's live-action Narnia film trilogy from the 2000s. Some speculate that Streep's casting might even top his performance.

Gerwig expressed her reverence for the source material. "I'm interested in accepting the paradox of the worlds that Lewis created because that's what makes them so fascinating," said Greta Gerwig. She added, "You don't even think to question that it doesn't follow a logical scheme."

The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.