Liam Neeson Says There’s ‘Nobody Better Than’ Meryl Streep to Take Over Aslan Role in ‘Narnia,’ but Admits He Didn’t Know About Greta Gerwig’s Movie: ‘This Is News to Me’

Liam Neeson expressed astonishment upon learning that Meryl Streep would voice the character of Aslan in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of The Magician's Nephew. Greta Gerwig, known for her work on the Barbie movie, is transforming C.S. Lewis' fantasy world into a rock opera-style production. This departure from the original source material has divided opinions, with some embracing Gerwig's unique approach and others questioning the creative choices.

One of the most surprising additions to the adaptation is the casting of Meryl Streep as the voice of the lion Aslan, a Christ-like figure in the books who ultimately sacrifices himself and is reincarnated. In the original movie trilogy, Aslan was portrayed by Liam Neeson, who, until recently, was unaware of the film's production or Streep's casting.

When informed of the project during a November 3, 2026 interview with ScreenRant, Neeson was completely taken aback, stating, "I’m sorry — this is news to me." He then asked, "Meryl is playing Jesus Christ?" to which the interviewer humorously replied, "Well, if you’re gonna make Christ a lady, nobody better than Meryl." Neeson smiled and responded in disbelief, but his reaction has since gone viral, eliciting mixed reactions from audiences, who are divided on whether his response was genuine excitement or a diplomatic attempt to mask his true feelings.