Christians slam Meryl Streep's casting as male lion Aslan in Netflix Narnia as 'blasphemous woke nonsense'

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 22 September 2026.

Furious Christians have accused Netflix and director Greta Gerwig of blasphemy after confirming Meryl Streep, 77, will voice Aslan — a male lion written by C.S. Lewis as a direct parallel to Jesus Christ — in 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew', due in cinemas on 12 February 2027. Gerwig confirmed the casting to Empire magazine, saying she wanted an actor "older than 70" with "gravitas" and "fresh wonder", but gave no explanation for casting a woman as a male character. Aslan will retain male pronouns and keep his mane, but sport heterochromatic eyes and a red stripe as nods to David Bowie.

Political commentator Isabel Brown wrote on X: "Aslan is how the creatures of Narnia experience Christ — just as we experience Jesus Christ as an incarnate MAN."

One furious fan begged Streep directly: 'They are using you and your good name to blaspheme Christians — is this what you want to be remembered for?'

Liam Neeson voiced Aslan in all three Disney and Fox films, which grossed around $1.5 billion globally; Streep will be the first woman to take the role in a major screen adaptation.