Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March: if you don’t know these girls, then you probably didn’t pay attention in high school English class. Little Women, which follows the March sisters’ lives during and post Civil War, is a coming of age story published in 1868 and 1869 by author Louisa May Alcott — and it’s gotten its fair share of Little Women movie adaptations over the years.
There were reportedly silent adaptations as far back as the 1910s and a Little Women movie in 1933, adapted by George Cukor, starring Katharine Hepburn as Jo. Then, there was a 1949 version starring a young Elizabeth Taylor.
Most notably, there was a 1994 film starring Winona Ryder and Kirsten Dunst. PBS also released a miniseries last year.
A “modern retelling” of the novel is even hitting theaters this September. For more on these TV and movie editions of the 19th century classic, click through to Willow and Thatch.
The newest version will begin production in fall 2018 and debut in the winter of 2019.
Here’s everything we know about the Little Women movie arriving to the big screen next year.
Little Women movie plot
Greta Gerwig, of the award-winning film Lady Bird, has adapted the novel into this newest screenplay.
Robin Swicord, writer of the 1994 Little Women movie and producer of the film coming next year, told The Los Angeles Times that the screenplay jumps back and forth in time and focuses on themes of identity, self-esteem and the bonds among sisters.
“Greta has a wonderfully associative, well-furnished mind,” Swicord said. “Her take on the novel more than convinced us that we could bring something new to the screen.”
“It’s really taking a look at what it is for a young woman to enter the adult world,” Swicord continued. “It’s a clear-eyed approach to the challenges women face as they bravely move into new situations.”
In Gerwig’s version, the focus is on the sisters’ young adult lives after Meg, Jo and Amy leave home, explains the L.A. Times.
The Little Women movie will not delve into Alcott’s sequels, Little Men and Jo’s Boys.
Little Women movie trailer
Production will start this fall, so a trailer is not yet available. Check back in with Metro because we’ll be adding one upon its release.
Until then, view the trailer for the 2018 rendition:
Little Women movie cast
News broke recently that Emma Watson will be replacing Emma Stone in this film — Stone had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
We also know the cast reportedly includes Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Timothée Chalamet. Who’s playing who has not yet been officially announced, but the film’s IMBd page shows designated roles. Based on that page, Eliza Scanlen will play Beth, Pugh will play Amy, Ronan will play Jo, Watson will play Meg and Chalamet will play Laurie Laurence (he recently told TIME that the script for the film is “awesome”).
In addition, Laura Dern has reportedly locked in a role, and Abby Quinn will play Annie, Meg’s “fashionable and wealthy friend,” per Deadline.
Meryl Streep confirmed she’s playing Aunt March, despite the fact that many thought she’d portray the girls’ mother, Marmee.
“Meryl Streep gets to play any part she wants to play,” Swicord told the L.A. Times (makes sense).
Swicord will be accompanied by producers Amy Pascal and Denise Di Novi.
Little Women movie release date
Filming for this next Little Women movie reportedly begins early October in Boston.
The release date is reportedly set for Christmas Day 2019.
