The planned Netflix production of movies based on C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” series has drawn concern from the ConWeb. Earlier this year, the Media Research Center fretted that the person playing Aslan, a lion that is a Christ figure in the series, might be female. Now, WorldNetDaily has weighed in as well with an Aug. 20 column by right-wing movie scold Ted Baehr that, for some reason, begins with a lengthy editor’s note by David Kupelian:
Note from WND News Center Editor-in-Chief David Kupelian: Dr. Ted Baehr, a longtime friend and ally of WND, is chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE, which evaluates motion pictures and other entertainment products from a wholesome Christian perspective. The following “open letter” to Netflix regarding its new “Chronicles of Narnia” movies currently under production undoubtedly speaks for countless millions of Christian movie-viewers. The letter is being sent to all the top brass at Netflix, from its co-CEOs and chairmen to the heads of the various movie-production divisions.
Hopefully, Netflix’ powers-that-be will take this letter and the suggestions therein to heart. Because it’s fair to say the success or failure of this major project will hinge largely on whether the movie-makers faithfully capture C.S. Lewis’ wholeheartedly Christian story-telling … or, as is so common in today’s “woke” culture, are tempted to convert these much-loved Christian parables into something else. (The movie-makers need look no further than the humiliating box-office failure of Disney’s recent “woke” live-action remake of “Snow White” – which ended up losing money and bringing great embarrassment to Disney.)
On a personal note: As with so many Christian families the world over, my own children were raised on the “Narnia” stories, which I read to them multiple times over the years – and now, likewise, my grandchildren are discovering the wonders of C.S. Lewis’ beloved Christian classics. Thus I await with great – though cautious – anticipation Netflix’s “Chronicles of Narnia” releases, in hopes they are a true blessing to all.
Kupelian did not explain what, exactly, was supposedly “woke” about the “Snow White” remake. The ConWeb cheered its failure mostly because its star, Rachel Ziegler, committed the offense of having opinions.
Baehr’s actual column is mostly a list of demands that he thinks “are essential to resonate with the faith-based audience.” There are seven main points and numerous sub-points, with a focus on Aslan:
3. Respectful portrayal of Aslan
– Aslan depicted with reverence, majesty and divine authority– Avoid trivializing or reinterpreting Aslan’s role as a Christ figure
– Voice and visual design that evoke awe and spiritual depth that maintain the key Christlike attributes of an awe-inspiring Aslan as an authentic allegory of Jesus Christ
And Baehr still wasn’t done with his demands and implicit threats:
In addition to these suggestions, adherence to these criteria can lead to enthusiastic endorsements from other respected pastors, theologians or Christian reviewers, as well as screenings hosted by other churches or faith-based organizations, inclusion in the broader Christian media outlets, and could be co-promoted with Lewis’ apologetic works like “Mere Christianity.”
[…]Feel free to reach out to me and/or my staff to start this journey toward unprecedented community stakeholder engagement, which could easily lead to a new standard for marketing these types of products across America and the world.
Baehr seems not to care that a movie like this deserves the widest possible audience, and turning it into a religious screed like he wants would not really do that. Also, however nicely Baehr and Kupelian may put them, they are implicit threats that also do not have the feel of goodwill.