Liam Neeson hilariously reacts to Meryl Streep voicing Aslan in new 'Narnia' film

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Liam Neeson welcomed Meryl Streep taking over his role as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming 'Narnia' film, admitting he had no idea the adaptation was in development.

The actor, who voiced the iconic lion in three previous films, shared his reaction to Streep’s casting in 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew' while drawing a comparison between the character and Jesus Christ.

Liam Neeson praises Meryl Streep’s casting as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s 'Narnia' film

After ScreenRant broke the news of Streep’s casting to Neeson, the 'Taken' star expressed his approval of the decision. Reacting to the announcement that Streep would portray Aslan, the lion deity from CS Lewis’ fantasy book series, Neeson said, “Meryl is playing Jesus Christ? Well, if you’re gonna make Christ a lady, nobody better than Meryl.”

However, the actor admitted that he was unaware of Gerwig’s upcoming 'Narnia' adaptation. “I’m sorry, this is news to me,” he said. Neeson previously voiced Aslan in three installments of 'The Chronicles of Narnia': 2005’s 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe', 2008’s 'Prince Caspian' and 2010’s 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'.

Neeson’s comparison between Aslan and Jesus Christ refers to the original literary character created by Lewis.

In a letter to a young fan before his death in 1963, Lewis explicitly described Aslan as an alternative incarnation of Jesus in the magical world of Narnia. The godlike lion sacrifices himself before rising from the dead, drawing a direct parallel with the story of Jesus Christ.

Lewis also viewed the overall seven-book Narnia series as a story about Jesus, making Neeson’s reference consistent with the author's original intention for the character.

Anna Popplewell reacts to Greta Gerwig’s 'Narnia' adaptation

Neeson is not the only actor from the previous 'Narnia' films to share a reaction to Gerwig’s upcoming project. Anna Popplewell, who portrayed Susan Pevensie in the first two films, also expressed excitement about 'The Magician’s Nephew' during a recent appearance at Comic Con Brussels.

Discussing the upcoming adaptation, Popplewell praised its music and said she was looking forward to watching it. “The music is amazing. It looks really exciting. I can’t wait to watch it,” she said.

The actress also observed that Gerwig’s version appeared quite different from the world created in the earlier adaptations. She added that she expected the filmmaker to bring her own interpretation to the fantasy series, given her reputation as a director and writer.

Gerwig previously explained why she wanted Streep to voice Aslan in her adaptation of Lewis’ first chronological 'Narnia' story. The filmmaker had earlier worked with Streep on the 2019 film 'Little Women'.

Speaking to Empire, Gerwig described the qualities she wanted in the actor portraying the iconic character. “I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” she said. She also wanted someone capable of communicating depth and pathos alongside joy and delight.

Gerwig further explained that she specifically wanted an actor older than 70, someone whose experience could bring wisdom while retaining a childlike sense of wonder. She also wanted one of the greatest actors in the industry for the role, adding, “That list is not a long one.”