The A170 at Sutton Bank, between Thirsk and Helmsley, closed at 7am on Sunday, September 13, and is due to remain shut until 7pm on Sunday, October 4.

North Yorkshire Council has closed the steep section of the A170 for its annual maintenance programme, with this year’s closure extended to three weeks to allow additional drainage and repair work to be carried out.

Roadworks information published on the one.network platform shows a signed diversion of 117.2km, equivalent to around 72.8 miles.

The alternative route is estimated to take drivers about two hours to complete.

Sutton Bank forms part of the A170, which runs between Thirsk and Scarborough, with the affected stretch climbing from the Vale of York towards the North York Moors. North Yorkshire Council describes it as a key east-west route across the county.

According to the one.network diversion information, motorists are taken away from Sutton Bank through a lengthy series of roads across North Yorkshire.

The route includes Cote Lane before reaching Bondgate and Linkfoot Lane in Helmsley.

Bondgate and Linkfoot Lane both form part of the road network through Helmsley, with Linkfoot Lane carrying the A170 through the town.

Drivers are then directed towards New Road before continuing along Sinnington Cliff Road and through the Sinnington and Wrelton area.

Sinnington Cliff Road forms part of the A170 near Wrelton, east of Helmsley.

The diversion continues towards Malton Road before eventually taking motorists onto a much longer section of the route.

According to one.network, drivers then travel for more than 23km on one stretch before reaching North Lane and later joining Ring Road.

The route subsequently uses Shipton Road before continuing along York Road for several substantial stretches.

Motorists are eventually directed back towards Sutton Road, completing the diversion around the closure.

In total, one.network gives the signed route as 117.2km, or approximately 72.8 miles, and estimates that it will take around two hours.

The diversion remains in force around the clock throughout the closure.

North Yorkshire Council says Sutton Bank is “undergoing planned maintenance to the rock face as well as routine road and drainage work.”

The longer closure is also allowing further drainage improvements and repairs to take place as part of a wider programme of work planned for Sutton Bank over the next three years.

The North York Moors National Park says the Sutton Bank National Park Centre remains accessible from the Helmsley side while the closure is in force, with signed diversions in place from Thirsk.

Drivers are being advised to follow the signed diversion and allow substantially more time for journeys while the A170 remains closed.

Personal possessions of late actress Brigitte Bardot – from Repetto ballet flats and diamond rings to her copy of the Kama Sutra – are being sold at auction on Monday with proceeds going to her animal charity.

Fans of the iconic figure, who died last December at the age of 91, have been coming en masse to contemplate the nearly 300 lots on display at the Drouot sale rooms in central Paris.

The items are from Bardot’s two homes in Saint-Tropez as well as her Paris flat, parts of which are recreated in the display.

“Each item on sale bears the trace of an encounter, an involvement, a moment of happiness, a stage of her life. They tell the story of the woman as well as the legend,” said her secretary for many years, Frank Guillou.

Bardot is seen today as one of the most important female personalities of the late 20th century. As a model and actress from the 1950s, she became an emblem of modern femininity and the sexual revolution before later taking up the cause of animal rights.

But later in life she was also criticised for making homophobic slurs and was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred.

A consumer expert has shared the three sentences to use when you have a legal right to a refund or when a retailer offers only store credit.

A consumer expert has shared the exact wording to use if a shop refuses to give you a refund when you have a statutory right to reject the goods.

Consumer expert Jane Hawkes advises making your rights clear with three simple sentences.

However, this is not a way to guarantee a refund for any unwanted purchase. Whether you are entitled to your money back depends on what is wrong with the goods, when the problem is identified and how you bought them.

Jane, who runs the free advice website www.ladyjaney.co.uk, is an award-winning UK money blogger with more than two decades of experience on both sides of the counter.

She said retailers “cannot simply replace a right to a refund with a voucher or store credit because it suits their returns policy.”

How to ask for a refund

The expert said that if you do have a statutory right to a refund, you must make it clear that you are exercising your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

She recommended saying this: “Under section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, I am exercising my statutory right to reject the goods and treat the contract as at an end. The Act states that, once this right is exercised, the trader has a duty to provide a refund. Please, therefore, process my full refund without further delay.”

When is a shop obliged to give you a refund?

Being offered only store credit when you want your money back can be frustrating. But there is an important difference between returning faulty goods and simply changing your mind.

Jane explained: “Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, consumers have legal rights when goods are faulty, not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described. The remedy available will depend on when the problem is identified. This can include a refund, repair or replacement.

“Where the law requires a monetary refund, the fact that you originally paid with money means the retailer cannot simply insist that you accept credit to spend in their store instead.

“However, it is important to distinguish between a faulty purchase and simply changing your mind. If you bought something from a physical shop and there is nothing wrong with it, there is generally no automatic legal right to a refund, exchange or store credit. In that situation, you are relying on the retailer’s own returns policy. The position can be different when you buy online, by telephone or mail order, as consumers generally have a 14-day cancellation period, even if the goods are not faulty.”

Check the returns policy before buying

Jane advised checking what a retailer offers for unwanted goods, particularly if you think you might want to return a purchase.

She said: “Retailers should make their returns and refund policies clear and easy for customers to understand. A good policy should explain what options are available for unwanted goods, whether that is a refund, exchange or store credit, together with any time limits and conditions, such as proof of purchase. It is always worth checking the returns policy before buying, particularly if you are unsure whether you may subsequently want to return the item.

“There are also certain goods where special rules can apply. These can include personalised or bespoke items, perishable goods, and some sealed products where breaking the seal means they can no longer be returned for health or hygiene reasons. Your rights can also be affected if you were specifically made aware of a particular fault before you bought the item.

“If a retailer tells you, ‘We don’t give refunds, we only offer store credit,’ don’t simply accept that as the final word but ask them to explain why they believe you are not entitled to a monetary refund.”

Two videos circulating on social media appear to show the moment a cargo ship crashes into a fishing vessel, with dramatic footage capturing the impact.

BBC Verify authenticated the clips, identified the ships involved and traced the collision to waters near Singapore, with evidence suggesting it likely happened on 17 September.

It remains unclear whether anyone was injured or killed and why the collision occurred.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman spoke to Hard Rock Bet in the wake of Taylor’s farewell bout, unveiling her groundbreaking new position

Just a fortnight after hanging up her gloves, Katie Taylor has already secured an exciting new role that will define the next chapter of her life.

The Irish boxing legend has been appointed as an ambassador for the WBC, one of the sport’s most prestigious governing bodies.

Throughout her remarkable career, Taylor has claimed WBC gold on numerous occasions, bowing out as a three-time undisputed champion with every title available in her weight division firmly in her grasp.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman spoke to Hard Rock Bet in the wake of Taylor’s farewell bout, unveiling her groundbreaking new position.

“She is unbelievable. From a little girl who had to disguise herself as a boy in order to box, to go to the gym, pretending she was a boy, to selling out Croke Park with 83,000 people. What a story. This is the greatness of a woman power, and she’s a great and absolute pride of the WBC,” reports the Irish Mirror.

“All of the fights she has had and there have been so many iconic fights. The Amanda Serrano trilogy, coming back from defeat to become champion again and the inspiration she has given to millions of girls and women who want to now get into boxing is just incredible.

“She’s going to be a WBC Ambassador for Life. Boxers, sometimes when they’re retired, don’t know what to do next so it is important we keep as many in boxing once they have retired because sometimes it can be hard for fighters but with Katie, she is with the WBC for life. she always has a home with the WBC and will always have a role.

“It is always about the boxer, before, during and after their careers inside the ring and we look forward to many years of collaboration with Katie Taylor and all the fighters around the world.”

For Taylor, Croke Park represented a momentous occasion.

She had campaigned for years to secure a bout at GAA headquarters, and with Flora Pili standing opposite her, she delivered a masterclass. The Irish boxer comprehensively outclassed the Frenchwoman, crowning her career with a magnificent victory.

Following the triumph, she contemplated retirement, stating: “My whole life has been one big training camp. I do training camp after training camp after training camp. I’m looking forward to just putting my feet up and relaxing for a while.”

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An ICE agent shot and seriously wounded a man who was delivering food for door dash- triggering a standoff, clashes with police and demands from a Democratic congressman for an independent investigation.

The confrontation unfolded shortly before 1pm on Sunday beneath an overpass in north Austin, after the federal immigration agent became involved in a traffic stop and brief foot pursuit, according to preliminary accounts from local officials.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 29, identified by his attorney as a Venezuelan national with no criminal history, was rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his torso. 

Perez was reported to be in serious but stable condition earlier today and has since been discharged at 4.30pm where he was placed in ICE custody, as per officials. According to his attorney as of Sunday evening, his family did not know where he was being held.

Photos taken exclusively by the Daily Mail show a small blue Toyota sedan with bullet holes riddling the passenger-side door, surrounded by police tape beneath the highway overpass.

Onlookers told the Daily Mail that Perez took off on foot after his car rolled to a halt and was subsequently shot.

Other witnesses told local NPR affiliate KUT that they heard gunshots and encountered an ICE agent alongside a man who appeared to have been shot in the back. 

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said that the incident may have involved a foot pursuit, but stressed that authorities had only limited information and that the investigation was continuing. Austin police were quick to stress that their officers did not fire the shots.

Photos exclusively taken by the Daily Mail show the small blue Toyota sedan the man had been traveling in when chased by ICE with bullet holes riddling the passenger door

Onlookers told the Daily Mail that the man – who is understood to be a Venezuelan illegal immigrant – took off on foot after his car rolled to a halt and was subsequently shot

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Chief Davis said local investigators were at the scene and were communicating with federal authorities, while Mayor Kirk Watson called for Austin police to have a role in examining what happened

Watson said he wanted a ‘clear-eyed, third-party look’ at the shooting while Democratic representative Greg Casar called for accountability for any ICE officer found to have broken the law.

At least one person in civilian clothes who appeared to be uninjured was put in handcuffs on the scene, according to Austin Council member Mike Siegel.

The shooting rapidly became the focus of anger in the Texas capital. As the evening drew in, a crowd of protesters – many waving Mexican flags – gathered on one side of the overpass, screaming ‘F*** ICE’ and demanding to know if the ICE agent in question had been arrested.

Many also started hurling rocks and water bottles at a squad of riot police sent in by the Austin Police Department, with cops firing pepper balls at the protesters in response.

At one point, demonstrators confronted police behind protective shields. Local reporting said officers used chemical agents to disperse the crowd. 

The confrontation came as questions mounted over what exactly happened during the federal operation – and why Perez was shot, as his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told outlets that he is married to a women who has legal status in the US.

Democratic Representative Greg Casar demanded an independent investigation and called for the immediate release of body-camera footage.

‘As the facts emerge, I am demanding a full, independent investigation, immediate release of the body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law,’ Casar said in a statement reported by CBS News. 

‘Over and over, ICE has shot people and then lied about what happened,’ Casar said, referencing the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.

By Sunday afternoon, dozens of protesters gathered close to the scene, with demonstrators shouting anti-ICE slogans as police maintained a heavy presence around the area

At one point, demonstrators confronted police behind protective shields. Local reporting said officers deployed chemical agents to disperse the crowd

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A 14-year-old boy has his face washed after Department of Public Safety used pepper balls to clear protesters out of the street

a 5-year-old girl shields her nose and mouth from lingering pepper spray mist

Other children were seen having to rinse themselves off with bottles of water 

The incident comes amid an expanded federal immigration enforcement campaign and follows other shootings involving immigration agents this year. In July, an ICE officer fatally shot 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston after federal agents attempted to stop a vehicle, yet Salgado Araujo was not the target of the warrant the agents were attempting to execute

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 The congressman’s comments came as local officials repeatedly emphasized that many details of Sunday’s shooting were still preliminary.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also called for local police to have a role in the investigation, saying he wanted a third-party examination of the incident rather than having ICE investigate itself.

At a press conference that took place earlier today, Watson said Perez was in serious but stable condition.

The incident has already drawn comparisons with other recent Texas shootings involving federal immigration agents, including the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston in July. That case remains under investigation. 

‘This is a pattern. This is a disturbing pattern,’ said Casar.

Federal authorities had not released a full account of the encounter as of Sunday evening, nor have they identified the agent involved.

It also remains unclear whether the federal officer in question has remained in Austin. Mayor Watson said he hoped that an agent involved in an officer-involved shooting would not leave the city or state while the investigation was underway.

This is a developing story, more to come.

Mikel Arteta will be ‘furious’ and will be hurting as his Arsenal players leave for international duty after a shock 3-0 loss to Brighton, believes Jamie Carragher.

The Gunners won their first four league games this season but that run came to am abrupt end at the Amex.

Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres scored the goals as the Seagulls soared to a stunning win and into third in the early-season table.

Arteta was very critical of his own players after the game, saying: ‘Extremely disappointed. But first of all, we have to congratulate Brighton; they deserved it.

‘They were the better team, and from our side, there were certain basics in football that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League that we didn’t.

‘In the first duel. Winning the first ball, especially with how direct they were. They put us in a really difficult place.

‘In our own half, the amount of technical errors. We didn’t respect any principle of play that you have to get out of that man to man situation and that put us on the back foot so it was very difficult to control the game.’

Carragher still expects Arsenal to be challenging for the Premier League title again this season, but Arteta will be hurt by the result, especially as there is now a lengthy international break, running into next month.

‘I think Arsenal will be fine, I think it’s more about what it does for the other teams. I think everyone raises their belief, thinking that if Brighton can do it, why can’t we do it?’ Carragher said on his Sky Sports podcast.

‘What will hurt Mikel Arteta is the fact that it’s the game before the international break. He’ll be so desperate to have his players on the training pitch, have a team meeting, go through the game. He’ll have to wait three weeks for that now and maybe by that time his anger will have subsided, because I’m sure he’ll be furious.

‘We can’t expect the best teams to perform every single week. It was a real bad one for them, but how consistent Arsenal have been for so long, I’m sure they’ll get back on track.’

Carragher sees the Premier League title race as between Arsenal and Manchester City this season, seeing his doubts over City already dispelled by their midfield signings of Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

‘I didn’t see them winning the league without Rodri, but I must say Elliot Anderson has started brilliantly,’ said the Liverpool legend. ‘Enzo coming in as well from Chelsea, he’s a good player. Whether people like him or not doesn’t matter. They’ve got two really good midfield players there.

‘Maybe you could argue that the midfield area is better now with the three players coming in to replace the two of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Certainly a lot younger and fresher.

‘I think those two [Man City and Arsenal] are a gulf away from everybody else.’

MORE: Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa aims explosive accusation at referee in Man Utd draw

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MORE: Matheus Cunha makes Manchester United admission: ‘It cannot be like this’

Many people still face disbelief about its impact in healthcare settings, at work and among friends and family.

A Belfast GP says people with migraine must be believed as a new report today reveals the condition’s mental health toll.

That’s according to a new report by The Migraine Trust, Unbelievable: the mental health toll of not being believed about the severity and impact of migraine, which combines new polling of people with migraine with a review of existing research and support service data from the charity.

Nine in ten people with migraine (90%) say they have not felt believed about the severity or impact of their health condition with more than three quarters (77%) saying that disbelief has damaged their mental health.

Migraine Awareness Week starts today (September 21) and runs until September 27. The theme of this year’s annual awareness campaign is ‘Believe Me’.

Migraine affects around one in seven people in the UK and can cause debilitating symptoms, from severe head pain and dizziness to sensory sensitivity, nausea and vomiting.

Yet many people still face disbelief about its impact in healthcare settings, at work and among friends and family.

Prof Jenny Johnston, a GP in Belfast and Clinical Professor of Medical Education, has personal experience from the dual perspective of doctor and patient.

She said: “Aged 24 and working as a junior doctor, I suddenly started to see flashing lights and distorted images. I panicked that I was having a stroke, but when the headache kicked in, I realised what it was and have lived with migraine ever since.

“As a doctor and patient, I am very aware some people may experience challenges with getting the impact of their condition understood. Yet migraine can be very disabling.

“It is increasingly seen as a complex neurological condition involving inflammation – far more than ‘just a headache’.

“It is so important for people to seek urgent medical assistance if they have any new symptoms and not just assume they are migraine, as other important issues need to be ruled out too.

“For those struggling with diagnosed migraine, there are now a number of advanced treatments available on the NHS. One of these has reduced my own migraines from every day to once a week. Effective treatments are out there, and there is definitely hope for migraine sufferers.”

Nearly a third (31%) of people with migraine said they had not felt believed by a colleague or manager at work and almost one in four (24%) said they had not felt believed by their family or someone they live with. One in five (20%) said they did not feel believed by a healthcare professional.

Worryingly, The Migraine Trust’s helpline data suggests worsening mental health more broadly among people with migraine. Callers mentioning suicidal thoughts rose by 54% in the last six months and almost trebled year-on-year, up 270%.

People reporting isolation and wellbeing struggles also increased, up 15% and 26% respectively. These latest figures add to existing evidence that paints a concerning picture of the mental health impact of migraine.

Previous research conducted by The Migraine Trust has examined the different ways that the condition can affect mental health and wellbeing.

Rob Music, Chief Executive, The Migraine Trust, said: “A common perception of migraine is that it is ‘just a headache’ and ‘it can’t be that bad’, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This new report sets out the compounding effect that not being believed about migraine has on mental health and paints an incredibly concerning picture.

“Many living with the condition are facing disbelief and downplaying of their symptoms in all parts of their lives, from healthcare settings to workplaces, and even, sadly, among loved ones. The impact of this for those living with migraine can be devastating.

“We need to urgently tackle the stigma associated with migraine. This Migraine Awareness Week, we are calling for greater public understanding of the condition, especially among employers and healthcare professionals.

“This simple act can have a profound impact on the quality of care and support that people with migraine so desperately need.”

To find out how to get involved, visit migrainetrust.org.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The initiative is being run by Pheniks in the Community CIC in partnership with Elite Community Hub in Halliwell and is open to both serving and former members of the Armed Forces, regardless of their fitness level or boxing experience.

Organisers say the sessions combine boxing-based exercise with a supportive and social environment, giving veterans the opportunity to connect with others who understand the challenges and experiences of military life.

The programme is designed to be accessible to everyone, with no previous boxing background required.

Sessions take place at Elite Boxing Gym, Halliwell, Bolton and are offered across three weekly time slots:

Wednesdays, 10am to 11am – Over-50s veterans

Thursdays, 6pm to 7pm – Veterans and their families

Thursdays, 7pm to 8pm – Veterans-only session

Pheniks in the Community CIC said the project aims to provide more than just exercise, helping veterans build friendships, reduce isolation and access a welcoming community space.

The sessions are free to attend and organisers are encouraging anyone with a military background who may be interested to come along and give it a try.

For more information, veterans can contact Pheniks in the Community CIC or visit the sessions at Elite Boxing Gym.

Meryl Streep‘s casting as Aslan in the forthcoming Narnia film has sparked furious Christian backlash, while some critics have slammed the ‘woke‘ gender swap. 

Greta Gerwig, who has helmed other projects such as Barbie (2023) and Little Women (2019), is both writing and directing Netflix‘s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

The movie is slated to hit theaters next year on February 12, 2027 before releasing on Netflix two months later on April 2. 

Streep, 77, has been cast to voice Aslan, a mythical talking lion in the world of Narnia who parallels Jesus Christ in the books written by C.S. Lewis. 

Liam Neeson originally voiced the lion in the trilogy of movies released from 2005-2010, which raked in around $1.5 billion globally. 

Social media users took to X to voice their thoughts on Streep’s casting as the almighty male lion, which has also garnered backlash from Christians. 

Streep, 77, has been cast to voice Aslan, a mythical talking lion in the world of Narnia who parallels Jesus Christ in the books written by C.S. Lewis

One penned, ‘Aslan is based on the story of Jesus. Jesus is male, and Aslan is obviously a male lion. What’s this about?’ 

Another wrote, ‘Dear Meryl Streep. I have watched your films and loved your talent for 40 years. Please do not do this. They are using you and your good name to blaspheme Christians. 

‘Is this what you want to be remembered for? Stop now. Signed a life long fan,’ they added. 

An X user said, ‘Another woke nonsense I will ignore. Hollywood hates money. Going woke, going broke. And extremely stupid.’ 

‘It doesn’t even make sense why a MALE LION would sound like Meryl Streep! It’s ridiculous!’ a fan shared. 

One typed, ‘It’s rather sad what Greta is doing to CS Lewis classic. It has a Christian undertone and for some reason it’s not acceptable. The bigotry in Hollywood is disappointing & creepy.’ 

Another shared, ‘Stripping the Christian themes out of Narnia leaves you with something that is a complete different story. 

‘Typical Hollywood. They want Christian art but without the Christ. It doesn’t work like that,’ they added. 

Liam Neeson originally voiced the lion in the trilogy of movies released from 2005-2010, which raked in around $1.5 billion globally; seen earlier this month in Toronto 

Social media users took to X to voice their thoughts on Streep’s casting as the almighty male lion, which has also garnered backlash from Christians

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A fan commented, ‘This is insane. It’s a male lion, the king of beasts and it parallels Christ. This completely changes the story. This movie is DOA!’ 

‘Bold decision but the type that could destroy buzz for a story with a strong Christian influence. Feels very Snow White-esque. Why does Hollywood keeping doing this,’ one also penned. 

Another said, ‘CS Lewis is cringing from beyond the grave,’ and one wrote, ‘Can’t wait not to watch. You know what would be unique these days? A faithful adaptation. This subversion is old and boring af.’ 

‘That’s okay, we already have great Narnia movies. This one just won’t exist in my household,’ an X user shared. 

One wrote, ‘Should not be called The Chronicles of Narnia. This is by far the worst adaptation of a book.’ 

Others voiced their thoughts on social media, including political commentator Isabel Brown.

‘In case there’s ANY confusion, CS Lewis literally intended Aslan to be the incarnation of Christ inside the world of Narnia.’ 

She also wrote, ‘Aslan is more than an allegory for Christ, he *is* how the creatures of Narnia experience Christ in their world just as we experience Jesus Christ as an incarnate MAN in ours. 

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Others voiced their thoughts on social media, including political commentator Isabel Brown

Gerwig recently opened up about the casting of Streep in the upcoming Narnia film during an interview with Empire; seen earlier this month in L.A. 

‘To cast Meryl Streep as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia is a slap in the face to the genius of Lewis, but also a deliberate mockery of Christianity that is 100% intentional. So deeply disappointing.’

Some, however, expressed interest and support in the casting. 

One said, ‘Meryl streep voicing aslan with a david bowie inspired design? that is such a wild combination, but i’m very c[u]rious to see how greta gerwig pulls it together.’ 

Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Streep for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Gerwig recently opened up about the casting of Streep in the upcoming Narnia film during an interview with Empire. 

‘I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,’ the filmmaker told the outlet. ‘Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.’ 

Gerwig continued, ‘I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. 

‘And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.’ 

She additionally explained that singer David Bowie had been one of the inspirations behind her version of Aslan and the film itself. 

Gerwig continued, ‘I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child’; Streep seen in April in South Korea

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She additionally explained that singer David Bowie had been one of the inspirations behind her version of Aslan and the film itself; Bowie seen in 1995

In the book titled A To Z With C.S. Lewis, author Louis Markos discussed Aslan and Christ with Lewis.

‘Though many readers assume that Aslan, the lion king of Narnia who dies and rises again, is an allegory for Christ, Lewis himself disagreed,’ Markos wrote in an excerpt, per The Gospel Coalition. 

‘According to his creator, Aslan is not an allegory for Christ but the Christ of Narnia. The distinction is vital. 

‘Were Aslan only an allegory, a mere stand-in for the hero of the Gospels, he would not engage the reader as he does.’

Markos added, ‘In fact, as Lewis explained, Aslan is what the second person of the Trinity (God the Son) might have been like had he been incarnated in a magical world of talking animals and living trees. 

‘As such, Aslan takes on a force and a reality that speaks to us through the pages of the Chronicles of Narnia.’ 

The Magician’s Nephew is an ‘origin story for Narnia’ and ‘is the first ever adaptation’ of Lewis’ sixth book in the Narnia series, but appears as the first volume.

‘Though many readers assume that Aslan, the lion king of Narnia who dies and rises again, is an allegory for Christ, Lewis himself disagreed,’ Markos wrote in an excerpt, per The Gospel Coalition

Gerwig explained that she first read The Magician’s Nephew as a child ‘and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life,’ per an official statement. 

She gushed that it is an ‘honor of a lifetime’ to bring the story to life. 

After reading the Narnia series, the actress and filmmaker added that she ‘believed in magic and hidden worlds and adventure. I believed that anywhere could be enchanted and that anyone could be swept up into an epic. 

‘That wonder and awe was available to everyone, even ordinary people like me… It transformed me.’