Greta Gerwig has explained why Meryl Streep felt right for Aslan in her upcoming Narnia movie, The Magician’s Nephew. The filmmaker said the role needed someone who could balance authority, emotion, wisdom, and a sense of wonder.
The casting also reunites Greta Gerwig with Meryl Streep after Little Women. Now, the director has shared more about the qualities she wanted from the performer behind Narnia’s famous lion.
Greta Gerwig explains why Meryl Streep was the perfect choice for Narnia’s Aslan
Speaking to Empire, Greta Gerwig said she wanted Aslan to feel “profound but not pretentious.” She also looked for an actor with gravitas who could still convey joy, delight, and emotional depth.
Age mattered to Gerwig’s vision as well. She wanted an actor older than 70 who could bring experience to the role. At the same time, that performer needed a childlike sense of discovery. Those requirements quickly narrowed the field.
Greta Gerwig then pointed to Meryl Streep’s range and stature as an actor. She called Meryl Streep one of the greatest performers to do it. Once the director defined the qualities she wanted from Aslan, Meryl Streep fit that vision.
That thinking explains the Meryl Streep-Aslan pairing beyond the surprise of the casting itself. Greta Gerwig wanted the lion to carry wisdom and emotional weight without becoming overly solemn.
The choice also aligns with the larger creative direction of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation, which has been years in development. She connected Narnia’s creation to music and cited David Bowie as an influence on Aslan’s look. Empire’s first images showed the lion with mismatched eyes and striking red markings.
Meryl Streep’s Narnia role had attracted attention long before the casting became official. Earlier reports said she was in talks for Aslan. Liam Neeson previously voiced the character in the 2000s Narnia films.
Netflix now lists Meryl Streep among the movie’s cast. The studio has also planned a theatrical release for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew before the movie reaches Netflix. The film will open in theaters on February 12, 2027.
For Greta Gerwig, however, the choice came down to a rare mix of qualities. She wanted wisdom without stiffness, emotional weight without gloom, and enough playfulness to make Aslan feel newly alive.