15th Annual AFI Awards – Red Carpet – Source: Getty

Meryl Streep is being eyed for an integral role in Greta Gerwig’s new Narnia film. Reports have ensued that the actress might play Aslan the Lion, who is said to be female in the new project. Liam Neeson previously played the role in the series and voiced the character through CGI.

The character of Aslan is said to be a reference to Jesus by C.S. Lewis. Powerful and noble, he is the creator and protector of Narnia. The word means lion in Turkish and is capitalized throughout the novels to portray his Christ-like figure. He is also described as the King of Beasts, the son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, and the King above all High Kings in Narnia.

Joining the Narnia series could mean great things for Streep, who is currently shining as Loretta Durkins in Hulu’s highly acclaimed Only Murders in The Building. Her last acting credit on the big screen was on 2021’s Don’t Look Up, where she played President Janie Orlean.

Details on the Narnia sequel are limited for now, as casting is still underway. Confirmations on a few casting rumors are awaited for now.

More details on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movies

Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation’s Pioneer Dinner Honoring Greta Gerwig – Source: Getty
It would certainly be interesting to see what shape the films take under Greta Gerwig’s creative control. Additionally, many actors are being considered for several central roles, such as Daniel Craig’s rumored involvement as Andrew Digory and Charli XCX being considered for the role of the White Witch. Louis Partridge has already been signed for the film, although his role remains unspecified for now. A wild guess is that he will be playing one of the Pevensie siblings.

Gerwig is making the sixth novel in the franchise, The Magician’s Nephew which will explore Narnia’s origins and is chronologically the first book that tells the events preceding everything else that happened in the other books.

Speaking to Time Magazine in January of 2024, the director spoke about how she feels to be a part of the project as she said,

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C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books are something that I’ve loved since I was a child. I would say the two big books of my childhood were Little Women and the Narnia books. So I had that instant excitement, but instant terror that comes from trying to tackle something that has shaped me. I want to make it feel like magic.”

Filming for the Narnia series is said to start this year, and the film is looking at a release window for November 2026. Although Netflix is behind the film, the streaming giant is set to release the film theatrically instead of a streaming-only release. This will be Gerwig’s first collaboration with the company, which makes fans all the more excited for the project.