Well, this is going to get people talking.
Here’s Empire Magazine announcing its November cover for Greta Gerwig's "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew," and the big reveal isn't really the first look. It's that Aslan, C.S. Lewis' great lion and the god-figure at the center of the whole saga, is being voiced by Meryl Streep. And no, he hasn't been turned into a lioness.
Empire still refers to Aslan as "he," describing his heterochromic eyes and red-striped face, a look Gerwig says was inspired by David Bowie. So this isn't a gender-swap. Aslan is still a male lion. He's just voiced by a 77-year-old woman.
Gerwig, who directed Streep in 2019's "Little Women," told Empire she wanted someone "profound but not pretentious," with gravitas but also a sense of joy. She wanted an actor over 70, for the wisdom of experience, and one of the greatest ever. "That list is not a long one," she said.
Fair enough. However, that said, here's where it gets complicated for Narnia-heads and hardcore Christians: Aslan isn't just some talking animal. Lewis made him an open Christ figure, and generations of readers, religious ones especially, grew up seeing him as the "Son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea." Put a woman's voice in that role while keeping the character male, and plenty of Narnia devotees are going to read it as a theological statement. Gerwig knew exactly what she was doing here, and so did Netflix, which is footing the reported $300M budget.
Let's also be honest about the climate. Gerwig is coming off "Barbie," a $1.4 billion hit that was also a culture-war punching bag. A loud corner of the internet was already convinced she'd "modernize" Lewis, and this casting hands them exhibit A. Throw in the Bowie-inspired design and the move to the 1950s, and the "this isn't my Narnia" crowd has a lot to work with.
The ‘Magician’s Nephew’ cast also includes Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell. "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" hits theaters February 12, 2027, then Netflix on April 2.
It’s now been 13 years since "The Grandmaster,” and it doesn’t sound like Wong Kar-wai will be making another film in the near future. His future seems to be on the small screen.