First Look at Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s NARNIA Reveals a Change to the Iconic Character
Fans finally have their first look at Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, and this version of the legendary lion comes with a couple of noticeable changes.
The new image reveals that Aslan will have two different colored eyes, with one blue and the other brown. That’s an interesting visual choice for one of fantasy’s most recognizable characters, but it isn’t the biggest change Gerwig’s movie is making to Aslan.
Meryl Streep is reportedly voicing the character, taking over a role previously performed by Liam Neeson in the 2000s Chronicles of Narnia films.
We also have a first look at Emma Mackey's take on the White Witch.
Whether you grew up reading C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia books or have a soft spot for the previous movies, Aslan carries a lot of weight in this world. Changing the character’s voice and giving the lion a new physical feature immediately sets Gerwig’s interpretation apart.
Gerwig, who directed Barbie, is currently working on The Magician’s Nephew for Netflix, with the film slated for release in February 2027. It will also mark Netflix’s first movie to premiere in theaters.
There have already been signs that Gerwig is putting her own stamp on Lewis’s story. Set photos have pointed to a significant change in the story’s timeline, and reports have suggested that The Magician’s Nephew could become Netflix’s most expensive movie yet.
The changes are already getting a strong response from fans, particularly from those who aren’t sold on the direction Gerwig is taking. Responding to the first-look image shared by Empire Magazine, one commenter wrote, “So many unnecessary creative liberties…Going to skip this …Never liked any Greta Gerwig movies anyways.”
Another fan responded, “Greta, you in danger girl,” alongside an image of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi saying, “This is not going to go the way you think.”
Another commenter was concerned that the new adaptation might not deliver the version of Narnia they’ve been hoping to see: “With this casting and that picture, my faith in this adaptation is starting to erode, and I hate that. I have wanted and hope this would be better than the Disney abomination. Getting vibes this one may be on par or worse. Dang it.”
Of course, a first-look image and a casting choice don’t tell us how the finished movie will turn out. Streep is an incredible performer, and it’ll be interesting to hear what she brings to Aslan and how Gerwig approaches the character within the larger story.
Still, adapting The Chronicles of Narnia comes with plenty of pressure. Lewis’s books have generations of readers attached to them, while the previous films have their own loyal following. Fans are going to notice every change, especially when it involves a character as important as Aslan.
Gerwig clearly isn’t simply recreating what came before. We now know her Narnia will feature a different period, a different voice for Aslan, and a new look for the character. The real question is how all of those choices work once we actually see The Magician’s Nephew.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is currently scheduled to arrive in February 2027.