Little Women, the classic American novel by Louisa May Alcott, which chronicles the coming of age of four sisters, has got the adaption treatment several times, across film, TV, musicals, and opera. Now Greta Gerwig is reportedly at the helm of a Little Women movie.
Variety first reported that the film was being developed, and Lady Bird writer-director Gerwig is making it. It’s thought that Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, Emma Stone, and Florence Pugh are in talks to star. Pugh is thought to be in line for the role of Amy March, while Stone is up for eldest sister Meg. It seems like Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird’s Chalamet will be in the running for Laurie, the boy loved by several of the March sisters. Saoirse Ronan could then be up for the part of Jo.
Set in Massachusetts, Little Women follows the four teen sisters and their mother, Marmee, as they settle in a new town and deal with life and strife without their father, who is off in the American Civil War. Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 version, starring Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Trini Alvarado, and Kirsten Dunst as the March sisters, and Susan Sarandon as the tough but sweet Marmee, is wonderfully timeless and beautiful. Armstrong delicately deals with issues of friendship, independence, identity, and love, from a feminist perspective, with help from an all-female production team. The soundtrack by Thomas Newman was also killer.
The most recent remake aired on BBC One has a three-hour television mini-series.
Ronan has recently starred in On Chesil Beach, a British drama about two newlywed virgins, while Chalamet fronts the upcoming Beautiful Boy alongside Steve Carrell, playing his meth addicted son.
Will we see Ronan and Chalamet remake those stunning moments of infatuation and curious courtship between Jo and Laurie like Winona Ryder and Christian Bale? I fucking hope so.
