Netflix is planning to bring the classic Anne of Green Gables to a new audience with their remake, Anne . Based on the books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne will air next year in an eight-episode, one-hour series.
The official synopsis , via the press release, for Netflix’s Anne is below.
“ Anne is a coming-of-age story about an outsider who, against all odds and numerous challenges, fights for acceptance for her place in the world and for love. The series centers on a young orphaned girl in 1890, who, after an abusive childhood spent in orphanages and the homes of strangers, is mistakenly sent to live with an elderly spinster and her aging brother. Over time, 13-year-old Anne will transform their lives and eventually the small town in which they live with her unique spirit, fierce intellect and brilliant imagination.”
According to Deadline, Netflix’s Anne will “honor the foundation of the book, but will incorporate new adventures reflecting themes of identity, sexism, bullying, prejudice, and trusting one’s self.”
Anne is a collaboration between Netflix and CBC. Award-winning director Niki Caro ( Whale Rider , McFarland USA , Zookeeper’s Wife ) has signed on to direct the two-hour premiere episode of Anne . Three-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Moira Walley-Beckett ( Breaking Bad , Flesh & Bone ), is tasked with writing the entire first season of the series. It will be produced by Miranda de Pencier ( Beginners , Thanks For Sharing ) under her Northwood Entertainment banner. That means Anne will be brought to life on Netflix by an all-female powerhouse trio, something fans of the original books should be excited about.
“I am thrilled and inspired to be joining this incredibly talented team, and honored to collaborate on material that brings this iconic character to life in such a bold, fresh, and exciting way,” said Niki Caro.
Netflix’s vice president of content, Elizabeth Bradley, is also excited about the revival of Anne .
“Anne Shirley is one of Canada’s greatest gifts to the world, known and loved internationally, so we’re thrilled to be working with the CBC and Northwood to bring this charismatic character to both new and old fans around the world.” Bradley said in the press release from Netflix.
The reboot of Anne of Green Gables was first addressed by Miranda de Pencier, who pitched the idea to Walley-Beckett, the CBC, and Netflix under her Northwood Entertainment banner. De Pencier praised the work of Moira Walley-Beckett and Niki Caro in her statement via Netflix.
“Moira Walley-Beckett has written eight riveting, funny, emotional, surprising, beautiful hours of television. With the extraordinary talent of Niki Caro at the helm, we can’t wait to deliver our show to Netflix, CBC and the world. Anne’s indomitable spirit can now enter homes and hearts all over the world.”
This is not the first time Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books have been brought to life. In 1985, a miniseries of Anne of Green Gables was made by CBC. A follow-up series was made in 1987 and shown on the Disney Channel. Several other adaptations have been made since then. However, prior to that, many movies were made based on the Anne of Green Gable books, the earliest being a silent movie made in 1919. Currently, another Anne of Green Gables movie is in production, this one based on Anne of Green Gables – The Musical .
Since Montgomery’s original Anne of Green Gables was released in 1908, it has sold over 50 million copies and translated into 20 different languages. The book series was so popular that an authorized prequel, Before Green Gables , was commissioned by the heirs of Montgomery. Before Green Gables was written by Budge Wilson and published in 2008.
Anne follows in the footsteps of many TV shows and movies that have been slated for a reboot or remake in 2016, including the iconic movie, The Lost Boys , and TV series, Full House (remade by Netflix under the title Fuller House ). Filming will begin this September in Ontario, Canada and Anne will stream globally on Netflix and be broadcast in Canada on CBC in 2017.
Are you looking forward to Netflix’s version of Anne of Green Gables or should they leave the original alone? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.
[Image via CBC]