First look at new Narnia movie's Aslan as Greta Gerwig explains Meryl Streep's casting

A look at Greta Gerwig's upcoming Narnia adaptation and Meryl Streep's Aslan has been revealed. Hot on the heels of her Barbie success, it was announced in 2023 that Gerwig would be directing a Narnia film, later revealed to be The Magician's Nephew.

The high fantasy film stars David McKenna as Digory Kirke, Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, Emma Mackey as Jadis (who later becomes the White Witch), Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, Daniel Craig as Andrew Ketterley and Streep as Aslan, a magical talking lion who is the king and creator of Narnia.

In particular, the Mamma Mia! star's casting was a online talking point, and now, Empire Magazine has shared a first look at Aslan on the cover of its magazine on Instagram.

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In an interview with Empire, the Little Women director revealed her reason behind the choice to cast Streep in role, adding that she "wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness".

"Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight," she continued. "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. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one."

Based on the sixth book in author C.S Lewis's Narnia book series, The Magician's Nephew acts as a prequel of sorts before the events of the first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, focusing on Aslan's creation of Narnia.

As for Aslan's design, Gerwig looked to an unusual figure - David Bowie. Noting the multi-coloured eyes and red stripe across the face, she described wanting the film to be "big and transporting" and feel like a "rock opera".

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"David Bowie saved my life. Paul McCartney saved my life. David Gilmour saved my life. Pete Townshend saved my life. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant," Gerwig said. "When I heard their music, I had this deep sense of [thinking], ‘You’re gonna be OK’."

She added: "Narnia is literally a world made out of music. It is a world sung to life by Aslan, and rock ’n’ roll to me felt like a world made out of music."

Sony Pictures also shared a picture of the director on set to its Instagram, revealing in the post's caption that The Magician's Nephew will be released in cinemas on 11 February.

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