In Greta Gerwig’s film **Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew**, adapted from C.S. Lewis’s fantasy series, Meryl Streep will voice Aslan. Gerwig and Streep previously worked together on **Little Women**. The director said she chose Streep because she can convey depth, wisdom, joy and childlike curiosity all at once.
Aslan will have eyes of different colors and a red stripe on his face. Inspired by David Bowie for this design and by rock music for the film’s overall spirit, Gerwig said she wanted the production to give audiences the feeling of a “rock opera.” She said Narnia is a world created by Aslan’s song.
**Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew** will be Gerwig’s next big-budget film following **Barbie** and will tell the story of how Narnia was created. The cast includes:
- David McKenna
- Beatrice Campbell
- Daniel Craig
- Emma Mackey
- Carey Mulligan
- Ciarán Hinds
The film will be released in theaters on **February 12, 2027**, and on Netflix on **April 2**.
Why it matters
The film marks a new direction in Greta Gerwig’s career by showing her move into a larger-scale fantasy universe following **Barbie**. Her collaboration with Meryl Streep after **Little Women** elevates the balance of wisdom, joy and curiosity that Gerwig seeks in acting beyond mere casting for the lead voice role. Aslan’s David Bowie-inspired appearance and the approach drawing on rock music indicate that **Narnia** will take on a tone distinct from conventional fantasy narratives. The film’s release first in theaters and then on Netflix reveals a distribution plan targeting both the theatrical experience and digital audiences. The open question is how this rock opera feeling will merge with the story of Narnia’s creation.