Liam Neeson has given Meryl Streep his approval to take over the role of Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s The Magician’s Nephew. He said he first heard about the casting when a ScreenRant reporter raised it with him.
“I’m sorry, this is news to me,” Neeson said when asked about the new adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia books.
After learning that Streep would voice the talking lion, Neeson responded: “Meryl is playing Jesus Christ? Well, if you’re going to make Christ a lady, nobody better than Meryl.”
Gerwig, who wrote and is directing the film, told Empire she wanted an actor over 70 who could bring wisdom and a childlike sense of wonder, as well as communicate depth, pathos, joy and delight.
The Magician’s Nephew is based on the sixth book in Lewis’ series but is first in the story’s chronology. It follows Aslan’s creation of Narnia, a thousand years before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Gerwig confirmed in 2023 that she planned to adapt Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia books for Netflix. Streep joined the project last April. Neeson previously voiced Aslan in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).
