The Narnia controversy just got a major plot twist. After Movieguide founder Ted Baehr claimed C.S. Lewis’s family was“very upset”about Greta Gerwig’s Netflix adaptation and feared it could“destroy the brand,”the family issued their own statement through Netflix, and it tells a very different story. David and Douglas Gresham’s families say they’ve had ongoing conversations with Gerwig, visited the London set, and personally witnessed her“sincere passion for the Narnia series.”That’s about as strong an endorsement as a filmmaker can get.
The uproar centers on Meryl Streep voicing Aslan, the lion who represents Jesus in Lewis’s books. For many fans, that casting raised real questions about how the film handles the story’s Christian symbolism. But the family’s support reframes things: they’re not defending a finished product, they’re vouching for a director they’ve spent real time with. It’s a trust-the-process move, not a review.
One detail keeps this from being a total victory lap. The family admits they haven’t seen any footage or heard any audio from the film yet. So their statement is faith in Gerwig’s vision, not a verdict on the final result. When the movie finally drops, the family will be watching it for the first time just like the rest of us. Do you think their support settles the debate, or does the real test come when the film arrives?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.