Liam Neeson had a hilarious response to Meryl Streep taking over the role of Aslan in the new Narnia movie. Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, has reignited excitement among both longtime fans and newcomers as another story from the magical world of Narnia is adapted for the big screen.

The first glimpse of the movie has been released, leaving many intrigued. Now, apart from bringing a beloved story to the screen, the film’s star-studded cast has also caught fans’ attention. One such example is the casting of Meryl Streep to voice the great Aslan.

Neeson, who previously voiced the iconic character, had an amusing reaction to the casting, calling Streep the perfect choice to play Jesus.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Liam Neeson was informed that Meryl Streep would be voicing Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. While the Taken actor admitted that he was unaware of the upcoming Narnia film, he appeared intrigued by the idea of Streep taking over the role.

Neeson previously voiced Aslan in three adaptations 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.

“Meryl is playing Jesus Christ? Well, if you’re gonna make Christ a lady, nobody better than Meryl,” Neeson said.

The comparison of Aslan to Jesus is interesting, particularly as the actor in his conversation was likely referring to the author's original vision for the character. In a letter to a young fan, C. S. Lewis described Aslan, a godlike figure who sacrificed himself and rose from the dead, as an alternative incarnation of Jesus in Narnia. He also viewed the entire Chronicles of Narnia series as a story about Jesus.

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And it seems Neeson also showed his support for the actress. As for Gerwig, she also had a distinct vision behind her decision to cast Streep as Aslan.

In her conversation with Empire, Greta Gerwig discussed her decision to cast Aslan, explaining that she wanted someone who could convey both depth and joy. She has previously worked with Meryl Streep on Little Women. So there were several qualities that made the actress the right fit for the role, as the director explained further in her interview.

“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,” she said. “And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.”

The director previously shared more details about the film during an exclusive Netflix IMAX sneak-peek event at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City. Gerwig spoke about how the adult cast members joined the film out of their love for the books and their desire to support the younger cast members. Meanwhile, audiences are excited to watch the movie, particularly with Meryl Streep as Aslan and the Narnia on big screen.

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What do you think about Meryl Streep playing the role of Aslan? Let us know in the comments.