Fact check: Meryl Streep as Aslan? who first reported it and where did the rumours come from

1. Summary of the results

The rumor about Meryl Streep potentially voicing Aslan was first reported by Nexus Point News and later picked up by Deadline ^[1]. The casting is reportedly for Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "The Magician's Nephew," planned for Thanksgiving 2026 release in IMAX theaters ^[2]. However, the situation remains in early stages, with sources indicating they're "not quite at the offer stage yet" ^[3]. Importantly, there are significant doubts about the rumor's credibility, as it was initially reported on April 1st (April Fool's Day) and has been deemed "close to zero on the believability scale" by NarniaWeb community members ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need consideration:

• There is precedent for female voice actors portraying male characters in animation ^[5]
• Aslan is consistently referred to as male in C.S. Lewis's original texts ^[6]
• The character has significant religious symbolism, with many Christian fans viewing Aslan as an allegory for Jesus Christ ^[3]
• Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis's stepson, has previously stated that Aslan should not be portrayed as female ^[4]
• Quantifiable fan opposition exists, with 65% of Narnia fans reporting being "extremely concerned" about this potential casting choice ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes the rumor has legitimate origins, when in fact there are several factors that suggest potential misinformation:

• Timing: The April 1st release date raises significant credibility concerns ^[4]
• Stakeholder interests:
• Netflix and the production team might benefit from the publicity generated by this controversial discussion
• Cultural critics argue that changing Aslan's gender would fundamentally alter the meaning of Lewis's work ^[6]
• Media outlets benefit from the engagement generated by the controversy, as evidenced by the significant social media reactions and fan pushback ^[2]
• Unclear details: Sources remain ambiguous about whether Streep would voice a male character or if Aslan would be gender-swapped ^[1], suggesting possible misinterpretation or speculation in the reporting