Getting back for a moment to what I think may be the underlying reason why I still can't believe the rumour is true (and not just because I don't want to believe it)... despite what some people understandably assume, Hollywood does not have "an agenda" — political or ideological, religious or anti-religious or whatever — apart from $$$$$.

Seriously — if those in charge of the movies seem to be pushing certain trends at any time, it's because they've picked up that that's what their target audiences want and are willing to pay to see. It doesn't get any more complicated than that.

That's why I can't quite believe it's the Netflix executives who are pushing for a female or gender-neutral Aslan. I gather it's unclear exactly how much they paid for the rights to all seven Narnia books, but it's said to have been something like $250 million. (Yes, as in $250,000,000.) They are not in this to promote some kind of radical ideology. They need to make a profit, or at least break even. They do NOT want this project to bomb.

Going just by the NarniaWeb poll statistics quoted by the Talking Beasts team — and we have a really good diversity of Narnia fans on here, from many different backgrounds — the "Meryl Streep as Aslan" rumour has left at least 70% of Narnia fans feeling negative about the project (from pessimistic to extremely concerned). If Gerwig herself or anybody else at Netflix were indeed seriously demanding to have a female / feminised Aslan, a good look at the reactions online should show them what a commercially disastrous idea that's going to be. And considering Netflix reportedly already dropped Matthew Aldrich for wanting to make unspecified "updates" to the Narnia stories... I just cannot believe those at the top would now be throwing their support behind something that, judging by the reactions to the Meryl Streep rumour, is going to be the equivalent of flushing millions of dollars down the drain.

And again, this speculation could be totally wrong (as could any others) and we really will not know until some genuine news comes out! 

@courtenay I totally get where you're coming from, especially regarding the financial side of things. Netflix spending that much on the Narnia rights suggests they’re in it to win, not to risk alienating a loyal fanbase.

But I also think it’s worth considering how Greta Gerwig works as a filmmaker. She’s known for being thoughtful, literary, and emotionally grounded in her adaptations. If her name is even being loosely connected to someone like Meryl Streep, I don’t take it as a sign of a “radical” direction, and it could’ve just been a brainstorming moment, not a locked-in creative choice?

You've actually made me also consider how it’s possible that early discussions (maybe even from the Aldrich era) are being taken out of context or misattributed to Gerwig? She hasn’t said anything publicly, and knowing how carefully she handled Little Women and Barbie, I’m always going to be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt until we see real casting news.

Posted by: @courtenay

I know I'm going on a lot lately, but I can't get over the fact that the more I think about this "Meryl Streep as Aslan" rumour, the less it makes sense. (Especially in terms of the likelihood of commercial success, and cynical though it may be, we all know what Hollywood's bottom line is. )

A lot of the reactions - especially the disbelief and grasping for alternate explanations - remind me a lot of the internet discussion following The Last Jedi. The portrayal of Luke Skywalker in that movie was not only so bizarre, but also so counterintuitive from a business perspective, that there had to be another explanation. Maybe the character in The Last Jedi was a crazy clone of Luke (drawing inspiration from the cloned Luke Skywalker storyline in Timothy Zahn's novels from the 90s), maybe it was all a dream, maybe Luke will return from the netherworld of the Force and be resurrected ala Gandalf the White in the next movie etc. That last one is the one that convinced me especially when the title for Episode IX was revealed as The Rise of Skywalker.

It just didn't make sense. Obviously, it upset me as a fan, but why would a company buy the rights to Star Wars and then shoot themselves in the foot with regards to arguably the most beloved character in the entire series - certainly one of them! But then Episode IX came out, and while there were some half-hearted attempts to smooth over some of the more controversial aspects of The Last Jedi, there was no grand surprise. Things really were as they seemed. I couldn't explain it then, and I can't explain it now. Any Star Wars fan could have told you that The Last Jedi was going to be very controversial, just as any Narnia fan could tell you know that gender-swapping Aslan is a very bad idea. They have to know their decisions are going to stir up a hornet's nest, but I guess they're okay with it.  

Granted, I'm still holding out hope that this is all a big misunderstanding, but it wouldn't shock anymore me if it isn't. Sometimes bizarre, self-defeating decisions are made in Hollywood with no apparent rhyme or reason.

Posted by: @reepicheep775

Granted, I'm still holding out hope that this is all a big misunderstanding, but it wouldn't shock anymore me if it isn't. Sometimes bizarre, self-defeating decisions are made in Hollywood with no apparent rhyme or reason.

True, that. It's just that given the amount Netflix paid for the rights to Narnia, if they mess it up on the very first instalment out of (potentially) seven, they've nothing to fall back on. Once they've alienated the fans — especially as seriously as this decision is going to alienate them (and already has, unless it turns out not to be true) — they (Netflix) will never win them (the fans) over again.

And if it really is going to happen, and they really are going to lose so many millions over it... well, so be it. As I've said, if this film completely tanks over the female Aslan issue and the entire franchise is ruined, at least other studios that might consider a Narnia remake in the future will take note and not try that again. 

The emotional investment we and others have in Narnia is deep, and when something feels like it’s straying from the heart of the story, it’s easy to fear the whole thing might fall apart. But as I've been saying, it’s worth keeping an open mind. We’re still at the rumour stage, and even if the Aslan casting ends up being different than expected, it doesn’t automatically mean the entire adaptation is doomed.

There’s a real danger in assuming that one controversial decision will sink the whole ship, especially before we’ve seen anything in motion. Some of the comparisons being made are to films that also struggled in other areas, with writing, tone, or pacing, which is why changes or problems stuck out more. But if Greta Gerwig brings her usual depth, heart, and intelligence to the storytelling; strong character arcs, emotional resonance, thoughtful visuals, this adaptation could still be something really special.

Aslan is vital, absolutely, but so are Digory and Polly, the emotional arc with his mother, the awe of Charn, the creation of Narnia, and the moral weight behind every choice. If all of that is powerful, and Aslan’s presence is handled with the same seriousness and reverence, then even an unexpected casting choice could still work in context.

It’s also worth remembering that some bold casting choices have worked. Take Judi Dench cast as M in the James Bond franchise. She was the first woman to play James Bond’s boss, a role that had traditionally been male since the character’s creation. At the time, it was a bold and somewhat controversial move. But Judi Dench absolutely owned the role, and by the time Skyfall came around, M's death was treated as a major emotional moment, proving how central and beloved Dench's portrayal had become. She wasn't just a gender-swapped character, she redefined the role of M for a whole new era of James Bond films.

And while there's a lot more surrounding Aslan that shapes people's hesitations to this idea, I still think (in general) If the performance is excellent and the character's spirit remains intact, audiences can absolutely embrace a new take.

@rilianix Well said, although that last part is something that was covered in the Talking Beasts episode: if Aslan is female, or voiced by a female actor, but the movie is spot-on with everything else about his (her) character and the plot in general... well, all three presenters concluded that that wouldn't be so bad. But they'd still be left with the overwhelming feeling of "So then why did you have to do that???"

Which is pretty much where I am too. I'll certainly watch the movie at least once, no matter what it turns out to be like, so that at least I know what we're actually dealing with and can comment fairly. But the whole concept of making Aslan female (or not entirely male) just seems so unnecessary — even for someone like me who's not heavily traditionalist in her religious leanings and generally has no problem with portrayals of God as feminine or as ultimately beyond our human concepts of gender. (I nevertheless also don't have any problem with Jesus definitely being male, and of course that is specifically who Aslan is supposed to represent, so...)

If Gerwig's version of Aslan is female (or feminine-voiced) and yet otherwise does hit all the right notes, well, that'll be a relief. But I suspect I'll still hesitate to call it a "real" adaptation of Narnia, simply because that change goes so strongly against what Lewis would have wanted (going by his own beliefs and views on gender), and I honestly can't see how the film would gain anything significant by it. Definitely not nearly as much as it would lose, in terms of both authenticity and fandom. 

@courtenay I really do understand that feeling of, ‘Why change it?’, especially when it comes to something as central as Aslan. It’s a valid question, and one that comes from a place of deep love and investment in the stories, which I absolutely respect.

For me personally, though, I think I’ve already made peace with the idea that, unless it’s handled very poorly, it’s not something I’d want to hold against the adaptation or Gerwig. I don’t say that to dismiss how others feel, but more as an honest reflection of where I’m at. I think adaptations can still resonate powerfully even if they diverge in ways that feel unexpected.

At the end of the day, I just want this project to bring joy and wonder to as many people as possible. That’s honestly why I keep showing up in these threads and sharing this perspective. It’s not to shut down concerns, but to say: there might be more room for something meaningful here than we think.