Greta Gerwig’s Little Women reboot has attracted a bloody brilliant cast
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- Kayleigh Dray
- Published
Greta Gerwig is writing and directing a new Little Women reboot – with Saoirse Ronan, Emma Stone, and Meryl Streep in talks to star.
Just a few weeks ago, we brought you the horrific news of Little Women: A Modern Retelling – a vomit-inducing and low-budget movie reboot of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, which aims to drag the March sisters (presumably kicking and screaming) into 2018.
We were upset. The world was upset. And now, it seems, Greta Gerwig was upset – so much so that she’s decided to right this incredible wrong by writing and directing her own (ultimately superior) version of the Alcott’s timeless tale.
News of Gerwig’s Little Women first came out of Variety, which has reported that Saoirse Ronan (who famously collaborated with Gerwig on the award-winning Lady Bird), Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, and Timothee Chalamet are all in talks to star.
Florence Pugh, who’s appeared in Malevolent and The Commuter, is also rumoured for a leading role (presumably Amy).
While none of the roles have been officially revealed, Variety is reporting that actors are being tested against Stone for the part of Beth – aka the sister whose fate was so tragic that it compelled Friends’ Joey Tribbiani to hide his copy of the book in the freezer.
However, looking at the list, it seems safe to assume that Streep is being lined up to take on the role of the ethereally calm and eternally wise Marmee, who was originally played by Susan Sarandon in the 1994 film.
Chalamet, similarly, seems set to take on the role of Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence – otherwise known as the original ‘boy next door’.
As for Stone and Ronan? Well, as the ‘Beth’ actresses are being tested alongside Stone, it makes sense that the La La Land star will be playing our beloved Jo: after all, the hot-headed wannabe author shares a very special relationship with Beth, and is (spoiler) right there beside her when she finally loses her battle with scarlet-fever.
Therefore, by process of elimination, we think Ronan is being geared up to play Meg, the eldest – and perhaps the most borin… oops! We mean, sensible – of the March sisters.
It is always tricky to get excited about a book-to-screen adaptation, particularly when it has been done before… and well.
However, while we will forever love Gillian Armstrong’s beautiful 1994 version of Little Women (which starred Winona Ryder as Jo, Kirsten Dunst as Amy, Claire Danes as Beth, Trini Alvarado as Meg, and Christian Bale as Laurie), we suspect that Gerwig – who was nominated for two Academy Awards at this year’s Oscars – more than has the skills to make her own stamp on the Little Women story a rip-roaring success.
That or, y’know, it will be hopelessly flawed. Fingers crossed it’s the former, eh?
Image: Getty