“I get uncomfortable around ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior’ stuff; I find that creepy.”
These are the words of Greta Gerwig, director of the upcoming film Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which is set to hit theaters in mid-February 2027.
The comment originates from a 2016 interview with Crash Magazine, in which Gerwig also described her affinity for Buddhism, the Jesuits, and Catholicism’s “emphasis on the worship of the Virgin Mary.” She noted that she found the traditional idea of God the Father “alienating.”
For many Christians, these views feel deeply conflicting. We grew up with the Narnia stories, and they carry a profound sense of childhood nostalgia. However, Gerwig’s personal beliefs are clearly reflected in the production she has created, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported recently.
The headline states: “Greta Gerwig credits her faith-based Sacramento upbringing for shaping new ‘Narnia’ film.”
So, what exactly was Gerwig’s upbringing? She has made it clear that she was largely raised within the Unitarian Universalist (UU) sect in Sacramento, alongside a few other church experiences. The distinct influence of Unitarian Universalism becomes obvious when analyzing the creative decisions displayed in the new Narnia trailer.
For instance, while Aslan appears as a male lion, he is voiced by a female actor, Meryl Streep. This choice directly aligns with the UU belief that God is non-binary.
Furthermore, the trailer, which has already amassed millions of views, features Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” as a nod to “spiritual enlightenment,” playing right as the young boy and girl discover their uncle practicing alchemy. The UU sect is highly ecumenical, operating on the belief that all spiritual paths, including paganism and witchcraft, are fundamentally equal.
In a recent interview with Stephen Colbert, Gerwig noted that she personally approached musician Jimmy Page to secure the rights to the song, marking the first time such a licensing request has ever been granted for a film trailer.
These deliberate choices do not reflect a creative trajectory seeking out Biblical faith. Instead, they introduce moviegoers to a non-defined, unknowable deity, potentially normalizing the principles of magic and witchcraft as forms of healthy “spiritual seeking.”
In some ways, this should come as no surprise—especially considering the cultural influences surrounding Gerwig, but also because we live in an era where occult propaganda thrives in Hollywood. Scripture explicitly warns us about spiritual deception in the last days; we must remain vigilant and discerning as this cultural battle intensifies.
We should pray for directors like Gerwig, who hold immense influence over the minds of countless millions of viewers. Let us pray that she sees through the false ideologies she is promoting, and ultimately comes to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Above all, as Christians, we must stand firm on the true Gospel of Jesus as spiritual deception grows increasingly subtle and widespread.
David Bass is the host of RISE Radio Podcast and has been working in discernment outreach and evangelism for 10 years. He has a background of working as a journalist in UK television, before he came to faith in Jesus.
