--- title: "Meryl Streep cast as Aslan in Netflix Narnia film" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film" category: "Media" published: "2026-09-21T03:05:15.453Z" source_reported: "2026-09-21T02:28:40.000Z" updated: "2026-09-21T03:05:15.453Z" trust_score: 30 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-21T04:15:19.509795+00:00" --- # Meryl Streep cast as Aslan in Netflix Narnia film *Casting of the veteran actress as the Christ-like lion character sparks backlash from some conservative and MAGA-affiliated groups.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 30 of 100, higher is better. The central claim rests on anonymous sourcing and no documents or independent outlets corroborated the reporting. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The reporting is thin, with little context or detail provided beyond the central claim. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises a gender-swap of Jesus, which is not directly supported by the article's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Meryl Streep has been cast as the voice of Aslan in the upcoming Netflix film 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.' - The casting has drawn criticism from some conservative and MAGA-affiliated individuals and outlets. - Critics argue that Aslan, who parallels Jesus Christ in C.S. Lewis's books, is intended to be a male figure and casting a woman is a mockery of Christianity. - Some reports link the casting to a broader trend of perceived 'gender-swapping' or 'wokeness' in media. Actress Meryl Streep has been cast to voice the character of Aslan in Netflix's forthcoming film 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.' The production is slated for release on February 12, 2027, in cinemas, followed by a Netflix debut on April 2, 2027. Greta Gerwig is writing and directing the film. Aslan is a mythical talking lion in C.S. Lewis's Narnia series, often interpreted as a parallel to Jesus Christ. ## Divergent views on casting Reports indicate that Streep's casting has generated backlash from some conservative and MAGA-affiliated individuals and outlets. Critics argue that Aslan is intended to be a depiction of Christ and that casting a woman in the role is a mockery of Christianity. Some outlets also connect this casting to a wider trend of perceived 'gender-swapping' or 'wokeness' in media. The Daily Mail reported that social media users expressed their views, with one stating, 'Aslan is based on the story of Jesus. Jesus is male, and Aslan is obviously a male lion. What's this about?' Another user wrote, 'Dear Meryl Streep. I have watched your films and loved your talent for 40 years. Please do not do this. They are using you and your good name to blaspheme Christians.' ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the reported $300 million budget for the film that Breitbart stated. The centre-rated report did not include the $300 million figure. The left-rated report did not mention a budget figure. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 57% (4) 1 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-21T04:15:19.509795+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-21T04:45:20.176Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Daily Kos report led on the backlash against Meryl Streep's casting as Aslan, framing it as the latest in a series of 'nonsensical enemies' for the MAGA community. It noted that the anger over Streep's role was occurring alongside controversy over Tillamook Cheese's halal labeling. The report stated that conservative voices viewed Streep's casting as a 'deliberate mockery of Christianity' and linked it to broader MAGA concerns about gender in media, citing examples like 'The Odyssey' and 'The Little Mermaid.' ### Centre - The Daily Mail report focused on the 'furious Christian backlash' and 'woke gender swap' following Meryl Streep's casting as Aslan. It highlighted social media reactions, quoting users who expressed dismay at a woman voicing a character paralleling Christ. The report also mentioned that Liam Neeson previously voiced Aslan in earlier film adaptations. ### Right - The Gateway Pundit, The Western Journal, The Christian Post, and Breitbart all highlighted the backlash to Meryl Streep's casting as Aslan. The Gateway Pundit and The Western Journal framed the issue around what C.S. Lewis might say about a woman playing his depiction of Christ. The Christian Post described the backlash as 'creative vandalism.' Breitbart's headline stated, 'Netflix Gender-swaps Jesus -- Streep to Voice Aslan in $300 Million 'Narnia' Movie,' suggesting the film's budget was $300 million. The reports from these outlets consistently framed the casting as a 'gender swap' and a 'mockery of Christianity.' **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 5 - high: 1 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/news/meryl-streep-faces-backlash-over-aslan-casting-in-narnia) — Meryl Streep Faces Backlash Over Aslan Casting in Narnia - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/celeb/celeb-lifestyle/meryl-streep-casting-as-aslan-in-narnia-film-draws-backlash) — Meryl Streep Casting as Aslan in Narnia Film Draws Backlash - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16147071/meryl-streep-christian-backlash-cast-aslan-narnia-film-woke.html) — Meryl Streep sparks backlash after being cast as Aslan in Narnia film - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/c-s-lewis-say-woman-playing-depiction-christ) — Here’s What C.S. Lewis Would Say About a Woman Playing His Depiction of Christ in Netflix’s ‘Narnia’ * The Gateway Pundit * by Michael Austin, The Western Journal - [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/c-s-lewis-say-woman-playing-depiction-christ-netflixs-narnia) — Here's What C.S. Lewis Would Say About a Woman Playing His Depiction of Christ in Netflix's 'Narnia' - [Daily Kos](https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/18/800100194/culture/magas-newest-nonsensical-enemies-cheese-and-meryl-streep) — MAGA’s newest nonsensical enemies: Cheese and Meryl Streep - [The Christian Post](https://christianpost.com/news/meryl-streep-as-aslan-in-the-magicians-nephew-sparks-backlash.html) — Meryl Streep as Aslan in 'The Magician's Nephew' sparks Christian backlash: 'Creative vandalism' - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/18/nolte-netflix-gender-swaps-jesus-streep-to-voice-aslan-in-300-million-narnia-movie) — Nolte: Netflix Gender-swaps Jesus -- Streep to Voice Aslan in $300 Million 'Narnia' Movie ## Questions **Who has been cast as Aslan in the new Narnia film?** Meryl Streep has been cast as the voice of Aslan, the Christ-like lion character, in Netflix's upcoming film 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.' The film is scheduled for release in early 2027. **Why is Meryl Streep's casting as Aslan controversial?** The casting has sparked backlash from some conservative and MAGA-affiliated groups who argue that Aslan is intended to be a male figure representing Christ. They view a woman voicing the character as a mockery of Christianity and a sign of 'wokeness' in media. **Who is directing the new Narnia film?** Greta Gerwig, known for directing 'Barbie' and 'Little Women,' is writing and directing Netflix's 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.' The film is expected to be released in early 2027. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Meryl Streep cast as Aslan in Netflix Narnia film", https://mediabias.news/media/meryl-streep-cast-as-aslan-in-netflix-narnia-film