The Magician’s Nephew Casting Rumors are Pouring In | Talking Beasts
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Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew? Charli XCX as Jadis? Casting for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (title unofficial) is underway, and fans are not waiting for official announcements to start the discussion. Listen to the podcasters share their impressions (and do a dramatic reading of the audition scene being used for Digory and Polly).
Watch the post-show chatter in which the podcasters discuss some of the films that have influenced Greta Gerwig, and Glumpuddle tries to convince Rilian and Gymfan to join Letterboxd.
First to comment, I don’t believe Craig is Asian but uncle Andrew, I’m hoping it’s Timothy Dalton who is Aslan. You guys should talk about who should voice Aslan, Like Timothy Dalton or Jim Cavizel or Beneduct Cumberbatch. You want a younger Asian how about Jim Cavizel? But I would Really like a podcast Talking about Potential Aslan Actors.
Good point about Craig being Old Digory, he might Narrate the film. And maybe reprise his role for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Love the dramatic reading, reminds me of Focus on the family Narnia radio dramas
@NoahCosgrove, Jim Cavizel is 56 years old. Liam Neeson was only 53 when he first voiced Aslan in 2005, therefore that probably doesn’t count as a younger take
Great episode! It’s so good to have the 3 of you back together.
In Charli’s defence, she actually has more acting experience than was mentioned in the episode—I believe she’s already filmed seven movies. Sure, none of them have been released yet so it’s hard for us to judge her acting. But clearly, someone out there thinks she can act.
I’m not saying it’ll work, but there’s at least some precedent 🙂
@ Noah Cosgrove We’ve got a thread on the NarniaWeb Forum if you’re looking for other suggestions of actors to play Aslan: https://community.narniaweb.com/index.php/community/cast-and-character-discussion/aslan-casting-suggestions/
I enjoyed today podcast with Rilian, Gymfan, and Glumpuddle (and hoping Impending Doom may appear for the next one). I was wondering for the next podcast can you guys discuss like the people who are involved in creating the behind the scenes as you already talked about the possible actors/actresses, so like James Chinlund (production designer), Dermot Power (Concept Artist), Kris Wright ( VFX Director), and Seamus McGarvey(Director of Photography)
Some questions I want you guys to possible discussed keeping in mind in Greta Gerwig’s perspective is :
1) Who are the people who are hired in Greta Gerwig’s project?
2) Why were these people chosen by Gerwig based on their previous works? How can they bring their works into Gerwig’s project that elevates Narnia cinematic depiction such as looking through their works and putting on your Greta Gerwig’s glasses and see what scene she saw fits into Narnia as Gerwig is very referential in the tone she wants to depict?
3) How can the people hired to do the jobs help the scenes where intense emotions will be prevalent in order to immerse the audience into the film?
I feel that having an episode dedicated to talking about like the background/ setting would help us really understand how it would turn out.
I really agree with what you guys said about the pros and cons of starting with The Magician’s Nephew. I have a few additional pros and cons of my own but I’m going to mention them in another comment (if I mention them at all.)
I doubt much of the dialogue from the audition scene will be in the final film. Mostly because I can’t see an award-winning screenwriter wanting her name attached to something that choppy. LOL. There could be some details from it that make it into the movie and Polly being an orphan is likely one of them. I’m not a fan of it because, well, it just sounds cliche and like a shallow, easy way to add “depth” to her character. But it could turn out well. I’ve been saying for a while that if I knew about some of the changes the recent movie adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson made to its source material, I’d have assumed they’d be bad, but I ended up enjoying them when I actually saw the movie. Maybe this could be like that.
I’m feeling pretty relaxed about Daniel Craig being whomever in the movie. (I haven’t actually seen him in anything that I remember. I mostly just watch movies that are based on books I like.) If I had to express a preference, I would want him to play Uncle Andrew because, well, he looks like Uncle Andrew to my eyes. Out of curiosity, what makes you think he wouldn’t do a “wise old jedi master” Aslan voice? 57 is fairly old.
Maybe Charli XCX is going to do an end credits song for the movie? I’ve got to say though I’m kind of hoping she’s Jadis even though acting isn’t her main claim to fame at this point.
This episode didn’t talk about the rumors of Mikey Madison being cast as Jadis. I’m sure she’s a great actress since she just got an award and everything. (I don’t believe I’ve actually seen her in anything either. Was Anora her acting debut?) But I’m having a hard time picturing her as Jadis because she looks so, well, nice. Isn’t her character in Anora like an underdog whom we pity? She looks more like that kind of character than an arrogant, stone-cold genocidal queen. Honestly, I can see her playing any female character in Narnia but Jadis. 🙂 Of course, she did win an academy award so presumably she can play all sorts of characters. Maybe she wants to do a role that’s really different from what people expect of her. We’ll see.
You know, while Gymfan and Rilian are too old for Polly and Digory, they do have very pleasant voices. I’d love to hear them do voiceover for a Narnia film. Maybe some talking beasts?
I feel bad that my last comment focused so much on the performers’ looks. I know acting ability should always outrank appearance. But since we can’t see any of these people playing the exact characters they might play in a Magician’s Nephew movie, it’s hard not to focus on their appearances.
It is always a pain listening to Glumpuddle since the good old days. Liam Neeson was great as Aslan.
Difficult to top Tilda Swinton as Jadis, the White Witch, in my mind, but I’m sure there’s an amazing actress for the job. A shame Liam Neeson can’t return as Aslan, his voice has such presence and age doesn’t matter for that role. Craig would be an interesting choice for Professor Kirke narrating! But they must get Polly Plummer right. She is probably one of the most important characters and quite subtly complex, especially for young girls like my 6yo. She adores Polly!
uncle andrew ……Jeremy Irons or Daniel Day-lewis
if you haven’t seen Craig as Bond try Casino Royale or Skyfall
Peter Calpadi looks like the Pictures of Uncle Andrew. a younger Aslan, How about Sam Heugen??
craig could be the cabby
Na I think Jack Lowdon will play the cabby, him and Saosrie Ronan will Play husband and wife. That seems likely right?? @Impending doom, Thank you very much for the link, but I already went over it a year ago and analysis everything you guys suggested. A lot of good Stuff, very helpful.
Me casually waiting for Narniaweb to disprove the current casting rumors as misconstrued. It’s Aunt Letty right !?!
ALERT! Meryl Streep has been asked to voice ASLAN!!! My mind is reeling. Apparently our beloved Lion, the One who sang the world of Narnia into being, who sacrificed himself on the Stone Table to save Edmund, who called down the stars at the end of the Last Age, is being changed into a female! My mind is reeling from the utter shock. I can’t stand the thought of Aslan as a lioness! I have nothing against lionesses, but this goes against everything in the book. Because I am a Christian and Aslan is supposed to represent Jesus (who is certainly male), I find it even more revolting!
At first I was very skeptical of Netflix’s choice to make Greta Gerwig the director for the new film, even though I really wanted to see a fresh adaptation. I haven’t seen any of her works except Little Women, but I was worried that she would infuse politics into the movie. After hearing some good things about her I started to feel better, but now all my hopes and dreams are crashing down around my ears! I hope very, VERY much that this is a piece of misinformation or some kind of horrible April Fool’s joke, because if it isn’t I am going to be so, so sad. I will personally REFUSE to watch the movie (and I strongly suspect that many others will do so as well), but I’m worried about any viewers who do see the film but haven’t had any exposure to the books. If they ever decide to read them, they will not get the same experience because they have only ever seen the woke version of Narnia.
I’m asking every single Narnia fan to quietly, lovingly, and insistently rebel! We can’t let this happen!
Noelle, I saw the rumor about the recast of Aslan and I have a hard time believing it, but, yes, if Netflix does change Aslan substantially in any way I will join you in avoiding watching it.
One day Narnia will be in public domain and fans will be able to make their own adaptions, so whatever Netflix does is not set in stone.
If Asian is a female I’m done. I was excited for these movies, but I refuse to watch if this is true. I’ll cancel my Netflix subscription as well. Stick to the books!! They’re popular for a reason.
The fact that the most acclaimed screen actress of our lifetime might be headed to the big screen after a hiatus of over 5 yrs and the main Hollywood movie biz outlets cannot confirm or corroborate this information tells me there clearly must be some misrepresentation of something, particularly Deadline(has a big presence in London and British film news and reported on the casting movement of other characters which has not been finalized) has still said nothing.
So hold on, before you blow your caps!
Even @Glumpuddle hasn’t been able to corroborate it, otherwise he would have posted
I highly doubt that Meryl Streep is Aslan. Alex rightly pointed out that Deadline hadn’t reported on it. An eagle eye will notice that most of Narniaweb’s casting rumour sources are from Deadline or Puck.
The news was released so close to April Fool’s Day. I’ll believe it if it is confirmed. In the meantime, Keep Calm and Carry On 🙂 No need to panic. Streep is probably not cast as Aslan.
I simply refuse to believe that Meryl Streep as Aslan rumor unless it is confirmed by more reliable outlets. They have to know that would be a surefire way to blow up any substantial built-in audience goodwill that you have for the movies. And for what? You might as well take the money you spent on production, douse it in gasoline, and light it on fire.
I doubt the state would do that
I doubt Greta would do that
I doubt Meryl would do that
They ALL have spoken quite thoughtfully about the roles for women as well the nature of adapting other beloved texts that span generations , so I’m still waiting for the truth
The report was made by a single site
I’m glad some people are skeptical about it, that gives me some hope. I feel a bit foolish now for getting so upset, thank you for tempering my anxiety a bit! I’m still not convinced they AREN’T going to do it, but I’m only thirteen and I am not the best at making predictions. Please forgive me!
I really do mean that, I feel so silly now!
Noelle, you do not need to feel silly. I’m more skeptical now that I’m older but that’s not always a good thing.