Thoughts on Gerwig’s “Nephew”

Here are some thoughts on Gerwig’s “Nephew”: the upcoming Netflix film, The Magician’s Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig. After Netflix announced Gerwig’s involvement, rumors abounded that she chose Meryl Streep to voice Aslan. Narnian fans weren’t happy, while others suggested that purist “gatekeepers” prematurely spread them. Turns out they were correct.

“I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness; someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.” And, “I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience; but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child, and also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.” ~ Greta Gerwig

Apparently that short list contained no male options. Interestingly, Liam Neeson who previously voiced Aslan said he has no issue with Streep. Well, of course not.

Adaptation and intent

Misgivings will inevitably come from those who cherish the original Narnian materials. What often follows is gaslighting and accusations levied against these fans. For example, the people involved with Amazon’s Rings of Power accused lovers of Tolkien’s IP of racism and misogyny for daring to speak out against R.O.P. adaptations.

Adaptation is one of those magically fluid words that can be as narrow as a lane or panoramic. But even slight changes can be consequential. Some fans don’t mind a little of that as long as they get to sit comfortably, open up a bag of popcorn, and enjoy a movie. The Narnian Chronicles, though, are more than entertainment, they are serious business.

Apparently it’s a screen writer’s creative privilege (and even necessary) to change things. Yet adaptation can also be useful for smuggling someone’s ideology over the intent of the author. Using a woman to voice a male character is not adaptation, it’s something else. Why didn’t we hear Aslan’s voice in the film trailer? According to one source, Streep was not happy.

This may have become a bigger issue than Netflix anticipated. Will they alter Streep’s voice to make it more masculine? That would adversely reflect on Gerwig’s stated reasoning above.

One writer posited that Gerwig was perhaps cleverer than critics gave her credit. You see, she claimed to have tried to read everything Lewis wrote and everything he read. He wrote and read a lot of stuff; she must have been a busy lady. Hence, accordingly, she may have had Michael Ward’s Planet Narnia in mind where aspects of Venus dominate The Magician’s Nephew. He suggested Lewis could have struggled incorporating Venusian themes into Aslan’s masculinity and that Gerwig solved the problem with her creative choices.

Nice try. Josh Bohnert aptly responded HERE

Bohnert notes that Gerwig (in her own words) is more comfortable with the idea of worshipping Mary than God the Father. Elsewhere, she has said: “I get uncomfortable around ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior’ stuff; I find that creepy.”

Gerwig is a Deist and Unitarian, not a Christian. If she really tried to read everything Lewis wrote, she’d know that his worldview opposes hers. The Chronicles of Narnia are soaked in Christianity. Aslan is a supposal of Christ. His sacrifice in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to save Edmund reflects the Cross. How might Gerwig adapt that?

In conclusion

Why do some professing Christian Christians defend Gerwig’s adaptations? I can’t judge people’s hearts. But some Christians have criticized Lewis’ outdated views on gender roles etc. Josh Herring’s book, Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve, waited for approval by the Estate for months before release because Lewis’ views might have offended cultural sentimentalities.

These people won’t mind Gerwig’s feminist adaptations because they see flaws in the original works and in Lewis. Lewis actually prized the feminine: read The Glory of a Narnian Queen in Live Like A Narnian. That won’t be enough for them.

Personally, I’ll stick to C. S. Lewis’ books as he intended them.

Long live Aslan!

Maranatha!