"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is becoming a movie, and we now have our first look at the cast in action. The beloved Judy Blume novel, which was released in 1970, has been adapted for the screen by "Edge of Seventeen" writer Kelly Fremon Craig. She will also direct the movie, which stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular Margaret, Kathy Bates as the young protagonist's grandma Sylvia, and Rachel McAdams [1] as her mom, Barbara.
"The book is obviously about a young girl who is becoming a young woman and she's embracing her womanhood," Bates told People [2] on Jan. 10. "And I think women throughout history have been taught to feel negatively about their bodies and about the processes that their bodies go through. I think this film will help young women feel better about their bodies."
Author Blume has been a part of the process from the very beginning, selling the rights specifically to Fremon Craig and producer James L. Brooks. McAdams told People that Blume was very involved on set, and said she was honoured to have the author there. "Watching her watch her book come to life and to be a part of that was just so surreal," McAdams revealed to People. "She's the loveliest lady and I felt very honoured to be part of this for that reason. That she waited so, so long to do this until, until she felt really good about giving it over. I just wanted to do right by her and give her the best Barb I could."
Ahead, learn more about the film's cast, plot, and release date, and check out the first stills.
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" Cast
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" stars Fortson as the titular 11-year-old, Margaret. Bates plays her paternal grandmother, Sylvia, and McAdams plays her mother, Barbara. Benny Safdie and Elle Graham star as Margaret's father Herb and her friend Nancy, respectively, while Gary Houston and Mia Dillon play her maternal grandparents, Paul and Mary Hutchins.
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" Plot
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" will follow the plot of the beloved Blume book, telling the story of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, who has a Christian mother and a Jewish father, but no particular religion of her own. Upon its release in 1970, the book became a classic for its honest and heartwarming portrayal of Margaret's curiosity about spirituality, puberty, family, and growing up.
One difference between the book and movie, though, is while the novel was set in the '70s, the movie will be less rooted in a time period. "While certain details have changed over the years, the experience of growing up is really universal," Fremon Craig told Entertainment Weekly [3]. "It's the same across the decades. There's something about an 11-year-old or 12-year-old girl today, watching a girl in 1970 go through the exact same experience that she's going through today. It feels so comforting to know that you're part of a long lineage. It takes that 'you're not alone' feeling and multiplies it exponentially. Because everyone every year before you has gone through this, and [they will] every year after."
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" Release Date
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" will be released on April 28, 2023.
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" First-Look Photos
