257. By Aslan’s Mane, is Netflix Really Casting a Lady as the Lion?

Breaking news. A new casting or creative announcement has got fans in an uproar. Alack, it must be a new day ending with the suffix -day. But in this case, the reliably rumored cast announcement is so strange, and so ghastly, and so out-and-out weird beyond the worlds, that it warrants us bumping our planned episode and focusing a whole other episode on this most bizarre and terrible news instead. We’re talking about the notion that a female actor (no shade on her) is rumored to be the new voice of Aslan. Mission update Lorehaven review: Squire of Truth this week, Ice retro review next week Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder Realm Makers Expo 2025 Johanna Frank, author of Here Lyeth Inheritance by J. A. Webb Quotes and notes “8 Facts About the Cancelled Silver Chair Movie,” NarniaWeb.com, Jan. 8, 2020 “Update from Douglas Gresham Family,” NarniaWeb.com, August 2024 Greta Gerwig ‘intimidated’ to be an American adapting The Chronicles of Narnia, The Telegraph (UK), Jan. 10, 2024 “Make Your Voices Heard,” NarniaWeb.com, April 5, 2025 1. ‘Who is Aslan? Do you know him?’ Aslan is the King of Beasts, the great untamed Lion, creator of Narnia. He’s supernatural and the Son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Some call him an “allegory” for Jesus. That’s not quite what he is. Lewis called him a “supposal” for Christ. Think of this as an alter-ego. So although slandering Aslan isn’t slandering Jesus, it’s pretty close. Very basic to this understanding is that Aslan is a male Lion. He’s a He. He’s the King (not queen) of Beasts. He has a mane. He roars and rules. It matters, for various theological and natural reasons, that God is a He. Aslan (left) gives a certain Netflix staff member a not-tame talking-to. (File photo, colorized) 2. ‘Aslan a man?’ What the recent rumor said Here’s the original March 31 story from “Nexus Point News” Deadline’s confirmation days later on April 3 NarniaWeb, April 3: Meryl Streep in Talks to Play Aslan Flashback: Douglas Gresham Previously Walked Away From “Girl Power Action Movie” Adaptation of The Silver Chair “I always try to be open-minded especially at an early stage in the process. But sitting here right now, I feel very deflated. The imagery is Aslan’s mane is so important. And the idea of a lion being the king of beasts. And this dropping so close to April 1 is unbearable.” —X post from GlumPuddle Fans are in grief, meltdown, but mostly uproar. Frankly, we’re sick of it. Stunt casting will accomplish nothing, irrespective of the actor’s talent. “Well, could a female voice a male?” No. This isn’t the Peter Pan play. Nor is this a 1990s anime, like Mayumi Tanaka voicing Monkey D. Luffy. Aslan is not a man. But he is a male Lion. He needs a deep lion-ish voice. That is how Lewis described him. Repeatedly. In all seven of the books. There is no cause to consider any woman at any stage for any reason. Alas, legacy media lines like this one are already corrupting discourse: In the novels, Aslan is a talking lion who serves as Narnia’s guardian and a guide for the human children. Generally portrayed as a male, Aslan was created as an allegory for Jesus by author C.S. Lewis. “Generally portrayed as a male”? What is this new verbal devilry? Aslan is male. He is a he. He has a deep voice. He shakes His mane. Let’s be gentle with a writer who may not know better about the basics. But also learn from it—these writers know very little about their subjects. So when they write on topics you don’t know about, apply discernment! 3. Rest ‘between the paws of the true Aslan’ No foolish or wicked adaptation can ever steal away the true Narnia We think you really can raise a loud hue and cry over this one. Contact anybody you can: Netflix, social media, stand on the rooftops. Have fun. Swashbuckle. Respect people and even movie companies. But let them know, clearly and firmly, that we’ll take no part in this. Open discussion Com station Top question for listeners What’s your reaction to this Narnia casting rumor? Next on Fantastical Truth Take two: “Fallen, fallen is Disney the great! The Mouse has become a dwelling place for cringe, a haunt for every unclean secularist agenda, a haunt for every flopbuster franchise, a haunt for every unclean and detestable remake.” Yes, we know the line. But after facing fairy-stale adaptations, flippant super-capers, and the adrift vessels of “Stalled” Wars, how could we restore Disney?