Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, the first book in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series, has become a topic of debate after it was revealed that Meryl Streep will provide the voice of Aslan, the lion who is often seen as a Christ-like figure in the stories. The casting was first reported in April of last year and has since drawn criticism from some conservative Christian groups. Gerwig confirmed the decision in an interview with Empire magazine, explaining that she selected Streep for her ability to portray both wisdom and a sense of childlike wonder. She emphasized the need for an actor who is "profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness." Some American evangelical commentators have expressed strong disapproval of the casting. Radio host Jenna Ellis accused Gerwig of "profaning Christ with the divine feminine," while Texas preacher David Fairchild called the decision "creative vandalism." Isabel Brown from The Daily Wire argued that casting Streep was offensive, citing C.S. Lewis’s intention for Aslan to represent the incarnation of Christ in the Narnia world. She referenced the conclusion of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, where Aslan tells Lucy and Edmund that they will come to know him by another name in their own world, implying a direct connection to Christ. However, not all critics share this perspective. Christian writer Mary Pezzulo pointed out the irony that some evangelicals are comfortable with Christ being portrayed as an animal, such as a lion, but consider it sacrilege when he is given a woman's voice. She noted that conservative Christians often accept the idea of Jesus as a lion but draw the line when it comes to a female voice. Gerwig has not confirmed that Aslan is female in the film, and there is no official confirmation that the new Aslan is indeed female. The film is set to reimagine the Narnia world through a rock opera lens, with Aslan’s eyes depicted in publicity images as resembling David Bowie’s mismatched look. The visual style of the film is designed to resemble a theatrical production by the Spiders from Mars, a rock band known for their flamboyant style. Daniel Craig plays the suspicious sorcerer of the title, while Emma Mackey takes on the role of Jadis, the White Witch, previously played by Tilda Swinton. The film follows two children who discover a forest with pools that lead to other worlds, one of which is a dead city beneath a dying sun. There, they awaken the queen who destroyed the city and accidentally bring her back to London. The book’s whimsical tone contrasts with the more solemn and religiously focused pacing of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Gerwig’s film may face challenges similar to her previous work, such as Barbie, which transformed from a potentially lighthearted movie about a doll into one of the most discussed films of the year. Whether this new Narnia adaptation will achieve similar success remains to be seen, but the casting of Meryl Streep as Aslan has already ignited significant controversy.