From a media release:
YTV presents the world premiere of Canada’s most beloved red-head in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables on Monday, February 15 at 6 p.m. ET/PT in a two-hour special, television event. The much anticipated original movie was filmed in Canada and stars acclaimed actor Martin Sheen as Matthew Cuthbert, 13-year old newcomer Ella Ballentine as Anne Shirley and Canadian actress Sara Botsford as Marilla Cuthbert.
True to the beloved tale that has enchanted fans for over a century, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, a fiercely imaginative little girl who touches the lives of everyone she meets. Taken from an orphanage to help with the household of an older couple, Anne becomes the charge of strait-laced Marilla Cuthbert and her shy brother Matthew Cuthbert. Though Marilla is determined to bring discipline to the irrepressible Anne, neither has any idea as to the profound impact they will soon have on each other’s lives.
YTV welcomes Tourism Prince Edward Island as the presenting sponsor of this world television premiere with sponsor billboards, custom travel vignettes and a contest created in partnership with Corus. Tourism Prince Edward Island will also be featured in YTV’s Big Fun Movies leading up to the broadcast premiere. The integration will feature Canadian families talking about the fun, adventure and kindred spirits that await them on Prince Edward Island.
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is produced by Breakthrough Entertainment in association with the author’s granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler who served as Executive Producer. The film was directed by John Kent Harrison (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler) and was based on the original script by Susan Coyne (Slings and Arrows, Best Laid Plans). Additional cast includes Julia Lalonde, Kate Honig, Stefani Kimber, Drew Haytaoglu, Kyle Gatehouse and Linda Kash.
First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables remains an iconic work of Canadian literature, which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The eight classic Anne of Green Gables novels set in P.E.I. 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.
I still can’t figure out why they want to do a new Anne series in addition to this new movie when we have a perfectly good adaptation from the 1980s. Now I’m a huge Anne fan and L.M. Montgomery fan but I really wish that a different one of her books could be adapted. What about a series about Anne’s kids? I think a World War 1 set series based on both the Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside books would have been great.
Valid point imho. Why does Shakespeare keep getting done too ? Or that stupid American version of AofGG, their copycat pollyanna crapola.
Will this be viewable in the U.S.?
No word yet Elizabeth, but it likely will be.