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Gerwig’s Narnia: What the Trailer Shows, What Lewis Meant by Aslan, and How to Watch With Discernment
For millions of readers, Narnia was the first place they ever met a picture of the gospel without knowing it. A lamp-post in a snowy wood, a stone table, a lion who gives his life for a traitor and rises again: these images have stayed with generations of children, and many adults trace their faith to them.
So when Netflix released the first trailer on 13 October for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, Christians took notice. A recent reflection on The Daily Declaration by Cody Mitchell offers his first impressions and concerns about how faithfully the film will treat C. S. Lewis’s Christian vision.
This post takes up the question that many believers are asking: what should we make of this adaptation? It sets out what’s known, looks at what Lewis himself said about Aslan, considers the specific concerns that have been raised, and suggests a way to approach the film that’s neither naive nor reflexively hostile. A trailer is a few minutes of marketing, so everything here is provisional.
What We Know So Far
According to reports from Deadline, What’s on Netflix, NarniaWeb, Deseret News and others:
- The release. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew opens in cinemas and IMAX worldwide on 12 February 2027, with IMAX previews from 10 February, and arrives on Netflix on 2 April 2027. It’s Netflix’s first wide theatrical release, and it was originally planned for late 2026, as Netflix had acquired the rights to new Narnia films and series. Australian readers should check local listings for dates.
- The creative team. Greta Gerwig, known for Lady Bird and Little Women, wrote and directed the film, with producers including Mark Gordon and Amy Pascal.
- The cast. Newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell play Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. Emma Mackey plays Jadis, who becomes the White Witch, and Daniel Craig plays Digory’s uncle Andrew, the magician. Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma also appear. Meryl Streep voices Aslan.
- The trailer. Reports describe a “modernised” retelling with a rock-inspired soundtrack, featuring Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” a sense of multiple worlds, and the creation of Narnia, in which Aslan is shown emerging in some form from a kind of cosmic dust, with the film reportedly teasing the lion without fully showing him. One report mentions the setting moving to the 1950s, whereas Lewis’s novel is set around 1900. Some of these details come from commentators describing the trailer, so we’d encourage readers to watch it themselves.
- Gerwig’s comments. According to Deseret News, Gerwig spoke about Lewis’s faith and legacy at an IMAX preview event in New York. She defended the casting decision, according to the report, without directly addressing Aslan’s gender.
- The reaction. Responses have been mixed. Some fans are excited by the visuals and ambition. Some Christians have expressed concern that the film may downplay or alter the Christian themes, and a Christian Post columnist framed the casting as an attack on the faith. Others on NarniaWeb have said they were sceptical at first but are keeping an open mind.
Why The Magician’s Nephew Matters
This is a significant book to adapt. Published in 1955 as the sixth Narnia book but placed first in the series’ chronological order, The Magician’s Nephew tells the story of Narnia’s creation. Digory and Polly are drawn into other worlds through magic rings, awaken the witch Jadis in the dying world of Charn, and arrive in a dark, empty place where they watch Aslan sing Narnia into being.
That scene is the theological heart of the book. Lewis paints a picture of creation by a spoken and sung word, which echoes Genesis 1, where God speaks and things come to be; Psalm 33:6, which says the heavens were made by the word of the Lord; and John 1:1–3, which says all things were made through the Word. It even draws on Job 38:7, where the morning stars sang together at creation. The book also explores the arrival of evil in a newly created world, in Digory’s temptation in the garden, which echoes the fall in Eden.
If the film retells these moments faithfully, it could introduce a new generation to some of the most beautiful Christian imagery in children’s literature. If it sidelines or reshapes them, it could lose what made the book distinctive.
What Did Lewis Say About Aslan?
Many people call Narnia an allegory, in which Aslan stands for Christ. Lewis rejected that description. He preferred the idea of a “supposal”: suppose there were a world like Narnia, and suppose the Son of God chose to become incarnate there, to die and rise again, as he did in ours. What might he be like? Lewis’s answer was a lion. Aslan isn’t a symbol of Christ; he’s Christ as he would appear in that world.
This distinction has important consequences:
- Aslan is the Creator. He isn’t created. He is the eternal Son, existing before the worlds.
- Aslan is the central character. Everything in the story orients itself around him, and the quality of the film will depend heavily on how he is portrayed.
- Aslan is deliberately masculine. Lewis consistently uses male pronouns and portrays Aslan as a king, in keeping with the way Scripture speaks of Christ, who was incarnate as a man. That’s why casting and portrayal are not trivial matters to many Christian fans.
- Aslan is both good and not safe. “He isn’t safe, but he’s good,” Mr Beaver famously says. A faithful portrayal captures both majesty and tenderness.
Lewis was also wary of film adaptations, partly because he feared that talking animals would look ridiculous on screen. That doesn’t settle the question of whether adaptations are good or bad, but it’s a reminder that he valued the imaginative experience of reading.
The Concerns Being Raised
Without having seen the film, it’s possible to describe the main concerns that Christians have expressed, and to weigh them.
1. Casting Meryl Streep as Aslan
Some see this as a deliberate attempt to change Aslan’s gender and so to depart from Lewis’s picture of Christ. Others point out that voice casting doesn’t necessarily change a character’s identity: actors of one sex often voice characters of another, and many animated films do so. The key questions are how Aslan is portrayed, what pronouns are used, and whether the character remains recognisably the Aslan of the books. Gerwig hasn’t addressed the issue directly, as far as reports go, so it would be premature to make strong claims.
It’s also worth noting that the Christian doctrine of God holds that God is spirit and isn’t male or female in a biological sense, while the Son became incarnate as a man. How much weight to put on Aslan’s voice is a matter on which Christians disagree.
2. The creation of Aslan from “cosmic dust”
If the trailer does show Aslan emerging from a kind of formless matter, that would raise a theological issue, since Lewis presents Aslan as the eternal Creator, not as part of the created order. It’s one of the things Christians should look for when they see the film. A single shot in a trailer may not be representative, and it may simply be a visual effect for his appearance. The full context will matter.
3. A “modernised” or “pluralistic” setting
Commentators have noted the move to the 1950s, the rock music and the multiverse flavour. Some fear this suggests a diluted or generic spirituality, and a few have gone further to suggest that the film intends to reduce the Christian content. Others point out that a different setting or musical style doesn’t in itself change the story, and that many adaptations update their settings while remaining faithful to their core.
4. The fear of being “blasphemous”
A few of the strongest comments on fan sites accuse Gerwig of deliberately mocking Christianity. That’s a serious accusation, and there’s no evidence for it from the trailer alone. It’s wiser to avoid assigning motives before the film is out, and to remember that judging someone’s heart is beyond our ability (1 Corinthians 4:5).
The Other Side of the Conversation
In fairness, here are some other perspectives:
- Supporters of the film would say that any adaptation requires creative choices, that Gerwig has a strong record as a thoughtful filmmaker, that a prestigious team and major release offer a chance to bring Narnia to a huge new audience, and that Christians shouldn’t assume the worst before seeing it.
- Concerned Christians would say that Lewis’s work is deeply and intentionally Christian, that the previous Disney and Walden films kept this faith-driven core, and that changes of the kind reported suggest a different priority. They might add that Netflix’s decision to move forward with this creative vision, and the ambition of a “punk rock” reinterpretation, make caution reasonable.
- Lewis scholars might say that the “supposal” gives some latitude, as long as Aslan’s identity as the Creator and sacrificial king remain. Some would say that changes to setting or music are surface matters, while the portrayal of Aslan and the central scenes are where fidelity is tested.
- Non-Christian fans might see the debate as overblown, and enjoy the story as a fantasy adventure.
- Some Christians would say that Lewis’s own imaginative approach would welcome new interpretations, and that an adaptation can lead people back to the books.
All of these are reasonable positions to take, and we can recognise the strengths in each.
How to Watch With Discernment
The Bible gives helpful guidance for engaging with culture.
- Test everything. Paul told the Thessalonians to test everything and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). That applies to adaptations as well as sermons.
- Hear before judging. Proverbs 18:13 warns against answering before hearing, and Proverbs 18:17 reminds us that the first to speak seems right until the other comes and examines him. Wait for the full film and its reviews.
- Engage with culture, as Paul did. In Athens, Paul quoted pagan poets and pointed to an altar to an unknown god, to introduce the gospel (Acts 17:22–31). A film inspired by Lewis can open a door to conversations about Christ, even if it’s not a perfect vehicle.
- Respect conscience. Romans 14 reminds us that Christians will differ on disputable matters. Some will see the film, some won’t, and both can act in good faith.
- Focus on what is true and lovely. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think about whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely and commendable.
- Avoid hypocrisy. Jesus’ warning about the speck and the plank (Matthew 7:3–5) reminds us to apply the same standards to ourselves.
Our Take
Here’s where we’d like to add some commentary.
1. Wait for the film.
A trailer is designed to intrigue, and may not represent the finished work. We’d encourage believers to hold their judgement until the film is released and thoughtful reviews are available, including from Christian critics who know Lewis well.
2. Aslan is the test.
If one question matters most, it’s whether Aslan remains the sovereign, sacrificial and resurrected Creator-king of Lewis’s story. The portrayal of the creation scene, the Stone Table and the temptation in the garden will say more than the casting or the soundtrack.
3. Be fair about what is known.
Some of the commentary about the trailer is based on guesses about motives, or on descriptions by others. Careful readers will separate what has been confirmed from what has been inferred.
4. Use it as an opportunity.
Whatever the film’s strengths and weaknesses, it will prompt questions. Christians can use the moment to invite friends to read the books, and to talk about creation, temptation, sacrifice and hope.
5. Read Lewis first.
The best preparation is to read The Magician’s Nephew with your children or friends before seeing the film, and then compare. It’s also a good way to notice how much of Lewis’s theology is carried by the text.
6. Don’t let one adaptation define Narnia.
Lewis’s books will remain as they are. Whatever Netflix does, the stories have lasted for seventy years, and they will outlast any single film.
7. Hold your reaction with grace.
It’s possible to be disappointed with a film and still treat its makers with respect. Our public reactions will say something about our faith too.
What You Can Do
- Read or reread The Magician’s Nephew, and the rest of the Chronicles.
- Watch the trailer yourself and compare your impressions with those of others.
- Pray for the filmmakers, and for the opportunities this film may create.
- Talk with your children about what they see, and about how the Bible and Narnia relate.
- Wait for reviews from people you trust, including those who know Lewis well.
- Start conversations with friends who may be curious about Narnia and the faith behind it.
Questions to Reflect On
- What do I most want a Narnia film to get right, and why?
- How do I respond when popular culture reinterprets something I love?
- What does Aslan mean to me, and how has Lewis shaped my understanding of Christ?
- How could I use the film as a bridge to conversations about faith?
- Am I quick to assume the worst of people I disagree with?
A Short Prayer
Lord, you spoke the world into being, and you came among us in love. We thank you for stories that point us to you, and for the gift of C. S. Lewis’s imagination. Give discernment to all who watch and judge, grace to those who make films, and wisdom to those who share their faith through stories. May every retelling of Narnia, faithful or flawed, lead some heart to look again at the true Lion of the tribe of Judah, and to find in him the King of all. Amen.
