Get Your First Look at the Lavish New 'Little Women'
Little Women MASTERPIECE on PBS Shown (Left-Right): Kathryn Newton as Amy, Willa Fitzgerald as Meg, Maya Hawke as Jo, and Annes Elwy as Beth. Little Women has been commissioned by Piers Wenger and Charlotte Moore at the BBC, and is produced by Playground (Wolf Hall, Howards End) for BBC One. The series is a co-production with MASTERPIECE on PBS. The producer is Susie Liggat. Executive producers are Colin Callender and Sophie Gardiner for Playground, Heidi Thomas, Lucy Richer for the BBC and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece. Lionsgate will manage worldwide distribution excluding US and UK. Photo courtesy of MASTERPIECE on PBS, BBC and Playground.
The first image is here from the highly anticipated new television adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic Little Women.
The three-part drama will follow the story of four sisters on their journey to adulthood. Set against the backdrop of the U.S. Civil War, the March girls must deal with everything from simple sibling rivalry to first love to gender roles in a rapidly changing society.
It’s a particularly American sort of story, which makes the fact that it’s being adapted by the BBC and PBS, who are best known for their British collaborations, particularly exciting. No shade intended, obviously – I love a good British adaptation of Middlemarch. But I expect the British perspective on this story may add some freshness to it, even for those of us who are very familiar with Alcott’s work.
The BBC and PBS released the first image of the new March sisters last week, and, well. It’s as sweet and perfect as you could have hoped for. Everyone’s even wearing darling pastels and sporting flower crowns. Get more adorable, show.
Get a 1st look at the upcoming adaptation of #LittleWomenPBS, coming to MASTERPIECE @PBS! Who’s your fave March sister: Amy, Meg, Jo, Beth? pic.twitter.com/lZiRvHFltl
— Masterpiece PBS (@masterpiecepbs) October 10, 2017
Four young actresses will portray March girls: Newcomer Maya Hawke will play the willful and adventurous Jo, Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series) takes the role of eldest daughter Meg, Annes Elwy (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams) will play Beth, and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies, Halt and Catch Fire) is the youngest March sister, Amy.
They’re joined by an all-star supporting cast. Emily Watson will play the girls’ mother Marmee, while the great Angela Lansbury will take on the role of cantankerous Aunt March, and Michael Gambon will play their kind neighbor, Mr. Laurence. Jonah Hauer-King is Mr. Laurence’s charming grandson – and general March sister crush object – Laurie. We don’t have any images of the supporting cast in character yet, but I rather hope we won’t have to wait too long to see them. (If only because I love Aunt March, and I want to see Lansbury in this role very badly.)
The series will be adapted by Heidi Thomas, creator of popular period drama Call the Midwife, which is well known for its ability to write female friendships, and also to make you cry. Just saying. Start stocking up on tissues now.
Still no word on when we can expect to see the latest Little Women for ourselves, but some time in 2018 seems a safe enough bet. More info on that as we find it out.
Are you excited for another take on Little Women? What’s on your wish list for a new adaptation?
