Hollywood is shaking up beloved classics, with producers and directors updating classic tales in a “woke” overhaul of storylines and characters.
Two prime examples are the reported casting of Meryl Streep as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation for Netflix, and the steep box-office drop of Disney’s latest live-action “Snow White.”
Streep, who has been absent from major film roles since 2021’s Don’t Look Up, is set to voice the powerful lion in “The Magician’s Nephew.”
Traditionally portrayed by male actors, Aslan’s role being offered to a female star signals a drastic departure from the original C.S. Lewis version.
Netflix has not confirmed the rumours, but industry chatter suggests Streep’s possible involvement is part of a larger effort to modernize the Narnia series.
Gerwig’s two-film plan, backed by Netflix, aims for a late November 2026 theatrical launch before hitting the streaming platform in December.
Other rumoured cast members include Daniel Craig and singer Charli XCX.
Meanwhile, Disney’s reimagined woke Snow White stumbled dramatically in its second weekend, seeing a 66% decline at the box office and earning just $14.2 million in the US.
Analysts say the film’s radical reworking of a familiar tale, combined with leading actress Rachel Zegler’s controversial comments on social media, contributed to its cooled reception.
Some fans and commentators blame the film’s “woke” script changes for alienating traditional audiences.
Despite the backlash, industry watchers note the push to diversify and update classic narratives appears here to stay.
Major studios are betting on fresh takes and riskier casting decisions to bring these stories to new generations.
Whether these reimaginings can satisfy die-hard loyalists and casual viewers alike remains the multi-million-dollar or possibly a mult-billion-dollar question.