Breakthrough Entertainment has issued a press release announcing plans for an all-new, thirteen-episode television series based on L.M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables:
Leading Canadian production-distribution studio Breakthrough Entertainment and the heirs of beloved Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery have joined forces to develop and produce a 13-episode series for television based on one of Canada—and the world’s—most celebrated and eternal book series, Anne of Green Gables. Announcement of the all-new Anne of Green Gables television series was made jointly at the Banff World Media Festival by Breakthrough Entertainment principals Ira Levy and Peter Williamson, and Executive Producer Joan Lambur and Kate Macdonald Butler, granddaughter of author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Set for production in 2013 in the Canadian Maritimes, Breakthrough Entertainment’s Anne of Green Gables will be a contemporary retelling of the famed book series while capturing author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s original vision for her characters and stories.
First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables remains an iconic work selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. The eight classic Anne of Green Gables novels have attracted generations of readers inspired by the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets.
For more on this contemporary retelling of Anne of Green Gables, see the article at The Hollywood Reporter.
This is very interesting, and exciting, news. On the other hand, I can envisage a lot of backlash from long-time fans of the 1985 miniseries, who no doubt will shout from the rooftops that they can visualize only Megan Follows as Anne.
Hi Shelly!
I think part of the reason people are so attached to the 1985 Anne of Green Gables is that it’s really the only adaptation that’s in circulation, except for the 1934 talkie which still airs on TV occasionally. The 1919 film is believed to be lost, the 1972 BBC miniseries apparently vanished (and, to the best of my knowledge, never aired in North America), the 1979 Japanese anime was never dubbed into English, and the live versions from the 1950s haven’t been rebroadcast to the best of my knowledge. And yet, works by authors like Jane Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and Lewis Carroll have been adapted numerous times, for both film and TV, and viewers have come to appreciate that adaptation is an act of interpretation, even as they come to like some versions more than others, just as many Anne fans enjoy the miniseries and the musical for different reasons. I’m really looking forward to seeing a new take on Anne, particularly one that’s filmed in the Maritimes.
Cheers,
Ben
I think that this is great news! No one has ever dared, it seemed, to even touch Anne of Green Gables. I’m glad that a new generation will discover Anne and fall in love with her once again. I’m really looking forward to this adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.
felicity18
So am I. There’s so much potential in an ongoing television series, and I’m especially glad that they’re going to film this one in the Maritimes. I’ve enjoyed adaptations of Montgomery’s books filmed in New England, California, England, and Ontario, but they’re not Prince Edward Island.
Hi Ben!
Did you see this response?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/red-haired-anne-returns-is-that-a-good-thing/article4267582/
Thanks, Vappu! More food for thought.
What I’m actually longing to see is a tv/film adaption of books 2 through 8. If this is good, maybe they’ll continue with the series, in the RIGHT way, not with anything like Anne’s “Continuing Story” that really didn’t follow any book at all. The first movie they made with Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst was magnificent, but it was down hill from there. I’ll hope for the best with this… though the words “contemporary retelling” worry me a good deal. I’m sure no true Anne-fan wants a “contemporary retelling.” We want the Anne that we all know and love, and we want to feel the same charming spell which the books cast over us. Still, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for this one. I’m convinced it can’t be too bad if they just find the right girl to play Anne. Megan Follows was Anne – no question, she just WAS Anne. Played her absolutely perfectly. Still there are definitely more girls just as suited to play her, but they’ll be hard to find. Find the perfect Anne, make at least an attempt to stick to the books’ initial storyline, and I think it’ll be okay. Fingers crossed!
Is there any news about the Anne of Green Gables miniseries? Have they chosen the actors to play these characters yet?
felicity18
I haven’t heard anything more since the press release last June. I believe filming is planned to start next summer, so perhaps the production company will make an announcement about casting closer to that point.
Is there any news at all about the miniseries? Like the casting?
I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled, but I haven’t heard anything yet. I’ll let you know when I do!
OMG I am a super fan of Anne, I have all the books, and the movies and the series… I can hardly wait for this!! Megan Follows was a great Anne but I can’t wait to see what they do next!! Yippeeeee
I agree it is exciting. I’m anxious to see what they’ve done with this story.