Nearly a year has passed since reports first indicated that Meryl Streep was in talks to portray Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis. Netflix declined to comment at the time, and there have been no updates since on whether those discussions progressed.
A new interview appears to offer the first confirmation of Streep’s Narnia involvement.
Emma Mackey, who is set to play Jadis, told Italian outlet D – La Repubblica that she will be acting alongside Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, and Meryl Streep in the film. Here’s the relevant portion of the interview published on March 18:
Roberto Croci: What can you tell us about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia?
Emma Mackey: Not much. It’s just exciting. The subject is very familiar all over the world, and it was also a big part of my childhood. Plus… (laughs) I’ll be acting with Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, and Carey Mulligan.
Translated from Italian
While this does not confirm that Meryl Streep will portray Aslan, it remains the most likely role based on the earlier reports, as no other part has been publicly associated with her.
Streep previously collaborated with Greta Gerwig on her 2019 adaptation of Little Women. The 76-year-old holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations in history with 21.
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