Greta Gerwig explains why she cast Meryl Streep as Aslan in 'Narnia' reboot

Greta Gerwig had a very specific voice in mind when casting Aslan for her upcoming Narnia movie.

In an interview with Empire published Thursday, September 17, the award-winning filmmaker explained why Meryl Streep was the rare actor who fit everything she wanted for the iconic lion in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” Gerwig, 43, said. “Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.”

Age was another important factor for Gerwig. She wanted an actor who could bring wisdom to Aslan while still capturing the character’s sense of wonder, and 77-year-old Streep ticked all the boxes.

“I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child,” Gerwig explained. “And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.”

Streep will lend her voice to Aslan in the Netflix adaptation, which hits Imax on Feb. 12, 2027, before arriving on Netflix April 2.

The character was previously voiced by Liam Neeson and serves as Narnia’s true king, appearing throughout C.S. Lewis’ seven-book series.