Netflix is adapting one of our favourite children’s books into a TV series

Books


Netflix is adapting one of our favourite children’s books into a TV series

By Kayleigh Dray

Updated 7 years ago

It has long been thought of as one of the best children’s book series of all time - and now Anne of Green Gables is heading to Netflix.

Just like the classic 1908 book by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the upcoming TV series will be set in 1890 and focus on Anne Shirley, a 13-year-old orphan who has spent her entire childhood in abusive institutions and the homes of strangers.

However, thanks to a fortuitous mistake, she is sent to live with an elderly spinster and her ageing brother.

Over time, the redheaded daydreamer comes to change the lives of all those around her for the better – and finds herself thriving in her new life on Prince Edward Island.

Elizabeth Bradley, the Netflix Vice President of Content, said: ““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.”

The scripts for the show will be penned by Breaking Bad’s Moira Walley-Beckett, while the two-hour series premiere will be directed by Whale Rider’s Niki Caro.

Praising the talent behind the adaptation, executive producer Miranda de Pencier said in a statement: “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.

“Netflix as our global partner means Anne’s indomitable spirit can now enter homes and hearts all over the world.”

The cast has yet to be announced, although it is thought that, much like they did with Stranger Things, Netflix will search for a talented and – as yet - unknown child star to take the lead.

It goes without saying that this is not the first time that Anne of Green Gables has been taken from the page to the screen; there have, so far, been three movies, as well as a 1972 miniseries, a 1985 television drama, and an animated series in 2000.

PBS is also gearing up for a Canadian movie adaptation,  L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, which is set to air in November this year.

Production on the eight-part Netflix series will begin next month, and will hit our screens in 2017.

Image: iStock

undefined

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.