Anne of Green Gables returns in new adaption

Anne of Green Gables, the classic story by Lucy Maud Montgomery has been brought to life a number of times, the most well-known being the 1985 mini-series directed by Kevin Sullivan starring Megan Follows as Anne, with Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth and Jonathan Crombie. Fans will be excited to hear a new version is coming out next week. This latest adaption is a Netflix series called Anne with an E.

The lead character Anne Shirley is played by Amybeth McNulty. Amybeth has featured in movies and television series before, as well as theatre, including stage performances of the Sound of Music in London and Annie. The young actress from Donegal, Ireland beat almost 1900 other girls who auditioned for the role during the global search.

The characters of Marilla is played by Geraldine James, who has been in the Sherlock Homes and Alice in Wonderland movies. R.H. Thomson, who was also in the Avonlea television series, plays Matthew Cuthbert. The revamp looks to be in good hands. The series creator and executive producer is Moira Walley-Beckett who spent six years as a writer and co-executive producer on Breaking Bad.

The synopsis of the series tells the familiar story:  Anne with an E is a coming-of-age story about an outsider who, against all odds and many challenges, fights for love and acceptance and her place in the world. Set in Prince Edward Island in the late 1890s, the series centres on Anne Shirley, a young orphaned girl who, after an abusive childhood spent in orphanages and the homes of strangers, is mistakenly sent to live with an ageing sister and brother. Over time, 13-year-old Anne will transform the lives of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert and eventually the entire small town in which they live with her unique spirit, fierce intellect and brilliant imagination. Anne’s adventures will reflect timeless and topical issues including themes of identity, feminism, bullying and prejudice.

Anne with an E starts streaming on Netflix, the digital subscription service, on May 12.

Are you a fan of Anne of Green Gables?