“Four small children is a recipe for heartache, headache, and indigestion,” says a mighty critical Aunt March (Angela Lansbury) in the first trailer for “Little Women.” But anyone familiar with the March girls know that they also bring plenty of joy and laughter to their beloved Marmee’s life.
The upcoming TV adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic novel will once again tell the story of sisters Meg (Willa Fitzgerald), Jo (Maya Hawke), Beth (Annes Elwy), and Amy (Kathryn Newton). The coming-of-age tale sees the girls battling societal expectations, love, and loss on their journey to womanhood under the guidance of their mother (Emily Watson), best known as Marmee, while their father is away fighting in the Civil War.
Heidi Thomas (“Call the Midwife”) penned the script, and Vanessa Caswill (“Thirteen”) directs. The three-part series is a collaboration between PBS’ “Masterpiece,” BBC One, and Playground.
“Little Women” has been adapted for the big screen several times, most recently in 1994 by screenwriter Robin Swicord and director Gillian Armstrong. The star-studded cast included Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, and Christian Bale. Katharine Hepburn and June Allyson starred in the 1933 and 1949 film versions of the story, respectively.
In August 2016 “Lady Bird” writer-director Greta Gerwig signed on to write a different remake of “Little Women,” but we haven’t heard word of the project since.
Check out the trailer for Caswill and Thomas’ “Little Women” below. It premieres on “Masterpiece” May 13, 2018.
