{
  "id": 8078865,
  "title": "First Look at David Bowie-Inspired Aslan in Greta Gerwig's 'Rock-Opera' Narnia: The Magician's Nephew",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/first-look-at-david-bowie-inspired-aslan-in-greta-gerwigs-rock-opera",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T17:35:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/first-look-at-david-bowie-inspired-aslan-in-greta-gerwigs-rock-opera-narnia-the-magicians-nephew"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, a new fantasy film directed by Greta Gerwig, promises to be a unique take on C.S. Lewis' beloved series. The movie will exclusively premiere in theaters on February 12, followed by IMAX previews on February 10 and streaming on Netflix on April 2. Gerwig shared her vision of the project, aiming for a \"rock opera\" that captures the essence of Narnia in a \"big and transporting\" manner.\n\nUnlike the well-known story of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Narnia: The Magician's Nephew offers an origin tale of the magical world. Set in post-war '50s Britain, the film deviates from the early 1900s setting of its predecessor. While it does not follow a musical format, it draws inspiration from British rock music of the '60s and '70s, with a particular influence from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character.\n\nAslan, the powerful cosmic lion who breathes life into Narnia through his song, takes on a Bowie-inspired appearance in the film. Played by Meryl Streep, Aslan is described as having heterochromic eyes and a red-striped visage, evoking the iconic Ziggy Stardust persona. Gerwig sought an actor who exuded both gravitas and joy, embodying the wisdom of experience while retaining the freshness of a child's wonder.\n\nThe Magician's Nephew marks the first C.S. Lewis adaptation in the Narnia series to be released exclusively in theaters. With an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Ciarán Hinds, and the aforementioned Meryl Streep, the film aims to captivate audiences and set the stage for future installments.",
  "summary": "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew sounds like a very different movie than most expected.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}