For more than half a century, The Chronicles of Narnia has stood the test of time as an unmatched source of entertainment, truth, and joy for tens of millions of people around the world. At the center of the stories of this magical world: The King of Narnia and Son of the Emperor Across the Sea, Aslan the Lion.

According to recent news reports, writer/director Greta Gerwig has extended an offer to famed actress Meryl Streep to play the role of Aslan in Netflix’s upcoming Narnia film. This casting choice completely undermines any faithfulness to the original stories, and must not stand.

In today’s world—where so many influencers and prominent figures portray a toxic and false of view of masculinity— Aslan provides a meaningful picture of true healthy masculinity:

Aslan is kind, gentle, compassionate, and selfless.  He is also wild, fierce, brave and strong.  Aslan is not safe, but he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.

While it is not yet apparent if Gerwig intends to transform the character into a female lioness, digitally alter Streep’s performance to sound male, or simply use the actor’s voice as is, none of these options are appropriate.

Regardless of Streep’s undeniable talent, the mere act of casting a female to portray a male figure sends the message that C.S. Lewis’ original Aslan does not fit modern sensibilities—and must therefore be altered.

Make no mistake, an altered Aslan is a false Aslan. A false Aslan is a false Narnia.  The integrity of the character must be preserved at all cost.

For Narnia, and for Aslan!