Meryl Streep is officially voicing Aslan in Netflix’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. Greta Gerwig says she chose Streep because she wanted a voice that could sound wise and commanding without making the lion cold or overly solemn.
The casting had been reported earlier, but the first-look reveal now confirms it. Aslan is still referred to as “he”; Streep is supplying the voice rather than playing a rewritten version of the character.
Why did Greta Gerwig choose Meryl Streep?
Gerwig wanted an actor older than 70 who could bring decades of experience to Aslan and still convey the excitement and curiosity of a child. She also wanted someone able to move between sadness, joy, authority, and warmth. In her view, very few actors fit all of those requirements, and Streep was one of them.
Streep and Gerwig have already worked together on Little Women, where Streep played Aunt March. This time, Streep will be heard rather than seen. Netflix has not released a clip of her performance.
What does the new Aslan look like?
The first official image gives Aslan two different-colored eyes and a red stripe across his face. His design is much more stylized than the realistic lion voiced by Liam Neeson in the 2005 film, with a visual nod to David Bowie.
The new film still describes Aslan as male and keeps his mane. Gerwig is changing how the lion looks and sounds, but the reveal does not present him as a different character.
Why is Aslan’s voice so important in The Magician’s Nephew?
The Magician’s Nephew tells the creation story of Narnia. Young Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer reach another world, encounter Jadis, and witness Aslan sing Narnia into existence. Streep’s voice will carry one of the story’s defining scenes, not only its dialogue.
David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell lead the cast. Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Daniel Craig, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough, and Susan Wokoma also appear. Gerwig wrote the screenplay and directs.
When does Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew come out?
IMAX sneak previews begin February 10, 2027. The film opens worldwide in theaters on February 12 and arrives on Netflix on April 2. Netflix is handling distribution in North America, while Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute it elsewhere.
The image of Aslan is out, but Streep’s voice is not. A trailer will show whether her performance has the authority, warmth, and wonder Gerwig says she wanted.
