News from Narnia: controversial casting

British actress and Christian Carey Mulligan has reportedly joined the cast for Netflix’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.

The casting has caused controversy so far, with Meryl Streep reportedly in talks to play Aslan – the lion character described by Lewis as “an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question ‘What might Christ become like, if there really were a world like Narnia and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?’.” With Streep being a woman, many have expressed concerns at this potential casting choice.

The adventure-book series is beloved by many – and the announcement that the world of Narnia will return to the big screen in 2026 has sparked much excitement.

American actress and screenwriter Greta Gerwig will direct the film, believed to be an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew. The sixth of the seven books, but the first chronologically, it tells the origin story of the land of Narnia.

Christians around the world love this book series of Lewis’ – who is also known for writing numerous Christian non-fiction books – with many people of faith spotting parallels between the happenings in the Narnia books and Christian truths.

Mulligan has reportedly been in negotiations to play protagonist Digory’s mother in Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew. In the book, Digory and friend Polly arrive in the land of Narnia upon its creation; the rest of the story is one of adventure, challenge, and wonder.

Last year Mulligan told The Times: “I’m very happy to say that I’m a Christian and I go to church.” She first met her future husband, singer-songwriter Marcus Mumford, of Mumford and Sons, at a Christian summer camp when they were 12.