Meryl Streep’s Voice for Aslan Sparks Christian Backlash and Petition to Replace Greta Gerwig

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What changed?

Netflix’s upcoming “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” directed by Greta Gerwig, has drawn criticism after the studio announced Meryl Streep will voice the Christ‑like lion Aslan. Some Christian fans and media figures argue that a female voice alters the theological symbolism of Aslan, a character modeled on Jesus Christ in C. S. Lewis’s 1955 novel. An online petition on Change. org calls for Netflix to replace Gerwig for future Narnia films. Dr. Ted Baehr, former president of the Episcopal Radio‑TV Foundation, said the change could alienate a large Christian audience. Gerwig, a Unitarian Universalist, defended her choice, describing Streep as a “profound but not pretentious” actor who could convey depth, pathos, joy and delight. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between faith‑based expectations and Hollywood casting decisions.

Why it matters

The debate underscores how casting choices can influence religious audiences and affect a film’s reception, potentially impacting box‑office performance and cultural dialogue.