From Isabelle Khoo of The Huffington Post:
Link: ‘Anne Of Green Gables’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables†has been brought to life through film and TV on multiple occasions. But no reimagining has touched our hearts more than CBC’s classic 1985 TV movie, featuring actress Megan Follows.
Now that it’s been over 30 years since the film first aired, we’re taking a look at where the cast is now. Continue reading.
From Nico Franks of C21 Media:
Link: PBS grabs Green Gables adaptation
PBS in the US has acquired the recently completed two-hour film adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic novel Anne of Green Gables.
The US public broadcaster will premiere the film, from Canadian production company Breakthrough Entertainment, during Thanksgiving on November 24. Continue reading.
From Cassandra Szklarski of The Canadian Press:
Calling all 12-year-old Canadian girls: You can audition to be the new ‘Anne of Green Gables’
The former Breaking Bad writer in charge of CBC-TV’s Anne of Green Gables adaptation says she’s on the hunt for “a 12-year-old female Bryan Cranston.â€
Emmy Award-winning writer Moira Walley-Beckett notes her version of the Lucy Maud Montgomery classic includes “a very, very demanding role†for a yet-to-be-cast leading lady. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Northwood Entertainment has begun a worldwide search to find its leading actress for the title role in the new, ongoing television series “ANNE.†Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s timeless classic novel Anne of Green Gables, Northwood recently announced that CBC greenlit “ANNE†with a Season One commitment of eight episodes of the adaptation. Production begins summer 2016.
The adaptation is being written solely by Emmy-award winning writer Moira Walley-Beckett (BREAKING BAD, FLESH AND BONE) who will Executive Produce with Miranda de Pencier (BEGINNERS) of Northwood Entertainment.
The professional search is underway for the casting of “ANNE†with auditions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe by award-winning casting agents Susie Figgis (HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, ALICE IN WONDERLAND), Bernard Telsey & Co. (HAMILTON, INTO THE WOODS, GREASE LIVE!) and Stephanie Gorin (FARGO TV SERIES, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION).
Beginning May 7 through to May 30, the “The Anne Searchâ€Â will travel across Canada conducting open casting calls in Toronto (May 7th and May 8th), Vancouver (May 14th and May 15th), Charlottetown (May 28th), and Halifax (May 29th and May 30th).
Anyone can be ANNE! If you’re an 11-14 year old girl simply SIGN UP or SHOW UP! For those enthusiasts who may want to audition and do not have a talent agent or don’t live in the cities holding open casting calls, Northwood Entertainment has created a website to upload auditions to.
Starting today, fans can go to www.theannesearch.com for more information on the new series, how to submit an audition and more information on Canada’s open casting calls.
While the new series will follow a similar storyline to the book, set in 1900’s PEI, that millions of readers around the world know and love, ANNE will also chart new territory. Anne and the rest of the characters will experience new adventures reflecting timeless issues including themes of identity, sexism, bullying, prejudice, and trusting one’s self.
YTV’s Anne of Green Gables celebrates family
When I heard of a new Anne of Green Gables film, I wondered why someone felt the need to produce it. I watched the premiere airing, and wondered why even more.
Sara Botsford and Martin Sheen? Really? They don’t fit their characters at all, and their acting skills are limited. Little Ella Ballentine tried, but the three will always be measured against the wonderful 1985 trio of Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth. Not to mention Dame Wendy Hiller in the 1987 sequel.
Not only was the acting in the new film inferior, we also had strange anachronisms such as references to a welfare system and child services, which Canada did not have in 1908 when the novel was written. Trying to update a classic is often a fool’s game. It takes away from the whole texture of the piece.
I realize I’m comparing a movie and a mini-series, but it’s the quality that concerns me. To be measured against an Emmy Award-winning mini-series (followed by the sequel, two years later, which is of equal quality) is a tall order. It would be like trying to remake Citizen Kane or Casablanca. Leave well enough alone.
What should be done is to rebroadcast the 1985 and 1987 series, perhaps every couple of years. They would build a new and growing following, much as films such as It’s a Wonderful Life and The Wizard of Oz have done. —Robert
I think it might have hit Maggie… —Norah
I so HOPE there is HOPE that neither Alex or Charlie ended up dead! I can’t believe that guy could get the information from the receptionist as to where Alex and Charlie were. No receptionist would ever have done that (I know from whence I speak.). The show was so fabulous and so shocking for me at the end! And me, all by myself, with my dog and cat. This show is at the top of my list of shows to watch. I’ll be waiting for Season 5 on tenterhooks. Absolutely love you all for such a good series. Now I am waiting
for the first show of the next season, to see what the next twist is re: Charlie or Alex, or…? —Robin
I think Alex will be shot. Charlie’s already been through quite a bit in terms of “OMG, will he make it??†situations. On another note, I’d love to see more Sydney (Stacey Farber) next season. She and Maggie make a nice fit. —Jordan
I feel like it would be too obvious and redundant to have Alex or Charlie end up in a coma again. Maybe he missed and the bullet passed them and hit someone behind. @Jordan, I agree! Saving Hope needs more Sydney Katz/Stacey Farber. —Flora
I agree with you both. Stacey Farber needs to come back and she should’ve been in the season finale. —Carly
You’re right. I had to re-watch the end of the episode on CTV.ca to see that the woman was behind Alex, facing Charlie, so that proves Charlie may still have his “gift.” In terms of angles as shown on the final shot, I would be more inclined to think we are being misled. However, we will have to wait and see. —Christopher
I don’t know who the ghost was (but Charlie saw her, yay!), she said to him “It’s time to go.†That could mean a whole host of things. I think Crenshaw shot Charlie. It was Charlie he was after, and I think the gun went slightly in Charlie’s direction right before the cut. Did Crenshaw escape, or did he win his appeal? If he won, would he be that pissed about spending a few extra months in prison, only to be put back after this incident? Revenge may be sweet but it makes people idiots. And now the long wait. —Hallie
Got a comment or question about the Canadian TV industry? greg@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.
