Canada’s CBC has ordered to series “Anne,” a new adaptation of classic children’s novel “Anne of Green Gables,” the network announced Tuesday.
The international co-production will see Moira Walley-Beckett and producer Miranda de Pencier join forces with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward on the Lucy Montgomery adaptation.
“Anne” centers on a young orphaned girl 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.
While the new series will follow a similar storyline to the book that millions of readers around the world know and love, it will also chart new territory. Anne and the rest of the characters in and around Green Gables will experience new adventures reflecting themes of identity, sexism, bullying, prejudice and trusting one’s self.
“We’re thrilled to be working with this exceptionally talented group of women on this exciting project,” Tara Ellis, CBC’s executive director of scripted content, said in a statement. “This new take on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story will be highly anticipated by fans of Anne and a whole new generation of viewers who have yet to meet her.”
CBC previously aired “Anne of Green Gables” adaptations in 1985, 1987 and 2000 with Megan Follows in the titular role.