LOS GATOS, CA — As anticipation continued to build for the streaming platform's upcoming reimagining of The Chronicles of Narnia, Netflix announced this week that the character of Aslan would be voiced by Zendaya.
Fans of the beloved series of novels by C.S. Lewis who had been intrigued by the new version of the story were surprised to hear that the voice of Narnia's iconic lion would now be provided by the universally beloved actress.
"This will be a totally different Aslan from anything you've ever seen," said Netflix spokesperson Gareb Sanborn. "While generations of fans have come to think of Aslan as a noble, stoic, regal figure, it's long past time to reinvent the world of Narnia and its characters for a modern audience. That's where Zendaya comes in."
In a statement released to coincide with the announcement, Zendaya expressed excitement for the opportunity. "Has there ever been anyone better suited to play a fierce lion than me?" she asked. "While I'm proud of my work in Dune, Challengers, and Space Jam: A New Legacy, nothing will compare to stepping into the role of Aslan. It's the role I was born to play."
Though some fans were angered by the announcement, Netflix remained optimistic that the project would usher in a new era of diversity, equity, and inclusivity for the franchise.
At publishing time, the show's producers had yet to comment on reports that the new series would feature Timothée Chalamet as the White Witch.
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