The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is one of the most iconic fantasy series in all of literature. Second to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, the saga of the Pevensie children and their adventures in the magical realm of Narnia has captivated audiences for generations. While there have been many adaptations of the books, Greta Gerwig's has stirred the pot more than stirring up the deep magic.
Years after Disney had their magical mitts on the series, Netflix is bringing us back through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia in the form of a new TV series. However, rumors of King Aslan, the series's most prominent figure, being gender-swapped and played by Meryl Streep haven't exactly won the project many friends, but could a recent reveal ease the tensions?
Have we found Aslan in Narnia?
Images from the new production hit social media as Netflix's Narnia kicks off with The Magician's Nephew, a prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. While we might be looking at our new Polly and Digory from the photos, a set photo might also have just killed the rumors surrounding a female Aslan.
For those not in the know, it was rumored some time ago that Meryl Streep would be the one to step into the coveted role of the lion Aslan, the High King of Narnia and Christ figure in the book series. To the surprise of absolutely no one, this was met with some pretty hefty backlash, as altering not only one of the most iconic literary figures, but a very well-known religious allegory was bound to be met with scandal.
Fortunately for Narnia fans, it appears these rumors have been debunked, as a set photo might have just given us our first inklings of Aslan. Take a look at the billboard that reads "A New World, A New Home" in the Instagram post. That's certainly not a female lioness standing in that heavenly sunlight.
If you've not read the books, this image foreshadows not just Aslan's arrival, but the creation of Narnia. "A new world, a new home" alludes to one of the most iconic scenes in The Magician's Nephew, as Aslan sings Narnia into existence with Creation's Song. Hopefully, it will be as stunning as the artwork.
While we cannot say much more about the production at this time, it's certainly making a very good first impression compared to the rumors heard before. Although Emma Mackey's White Witch has been confirmed, Aslan remains a mystery. Judging by the image, however, his portrayer is still likely to be a male performer. The question is, who?