Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. [DVD]

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Though it's Ralph that most people remember, Forever's message – that a first sexual experience can be fun, awkward but ultimately positive, and that first love does not always equate true love – still feels necessary and relevant. A Netflix series based on the book is on the cards. Lewis, Hilary (October 24, 2023). " 'Past Lives,' 'A Thousand and One' and 'All of Us Strangers' Top Gotham Awards Film Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 14, 2023. I feel a tremendous responsibility," Craig says. "A responsibility to Judy, but also to Judy's fans, and to the people that haven't read her books, for whom this will be an introduction to her."

a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 30, 2023). " 'Super Mario Bros' Swallowing Up 'Margaret', 'George Foreman' & More – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023 . Retrieved April 30, 2023. 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. For over fifty years, Judy Blume's classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming of age story, insightful humor, and candid exploration of life's biggest questions. In Lionsgate's big-screen adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn't happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets. Banting, Rodlyn-mae (April 26, 2023). " 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Takes the Messiness of Girlhood Seriously". Jezebel. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023 . Retrieved May 8, 2023.

The film shows Margaret experiencing what it feels like to wear a pad. "We had to represent the truth of it in all its specificity," she says. "You're walking around with a little diaper on. It's such an odd feeling. How do you represent that as honestly as possible?" The book is obviously about a young girl who is becoming a young woman and she's embracing her womanhood," Bates told People 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."

N'Duka, Amanda (March 2, 2021). "Kathy Bates Joins 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Adaptation At Lionsgate". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021 . Retrieved March 2, 2021. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is a 2023 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Judy Blume. [5] The film stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the title character, along with Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, and Kathy Bates.Plemmons, Mark (May 28, 2021). "Friday Five: Big stars in Concord?". Independent Tribune. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021 . Retrieved May 28, 2021. 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 as her mom, Barbara. Craig was also nervous about filming the scene where Margaret and her friends perform their bust-increasing exercises. "That's the thing everybody remembers from the book, so filming it was a big deal. I knew we had to get that right." 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."

The story recounts the experiences of an 11-year-old as she anticipates puberty and navigates the universal challenges associated with this time of transition. Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is hugely disappointed when her parents (played by Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie) announce that the family will be leaving New York and settling in suburban New Jersey. She is sad about leaving behind her fun grandma, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), and apprehensive about fitting in at a different school. Upon reaching her new home, however, she is surprised when the vivacious girl next door, Nancy (Elle Graham), immediately draws her into a new world. For the first time, the protagonist finds herself thinking (and worrying) about boys, bras, periods and even some of the great questions of life, such as the existence of a god and the complications of family ties.Only recently, Blume affirmed her allyship with the trans community. "Anything to the contrary is total bullshit," she said in a statement following an interview with The Times, which was headlined: Judy Blume: 'I'm behind JK Rowling 100 per cent', and had sparked controversy online. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2022). "Lionsgate Dates Feature Adaptation Of Judy Blume's 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' For Fall". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022 . Retrieved January 31, 2022. Nicholson, Amy (April 20, 2023). " Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret Review: An Appealing But Edgeless Adaptation of a Coming-of-Age Classic". Variety. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023 . Retrieved April 20, 2023.

After rejecting several offers to adapt her book in the 49 years since its publication, author Judy Blume sold the film rights to James L. Brooks and Kelly Fremon Craig, who worked together on The Edge of Seventeen (2016), with Craig set to write and direct. A studio bidding war over the distribution rights was won by Lionsgate. [6] [7] I am such a fan of the book and such a fan of Judy. It was important to me to do right by her, to make a film that felt like a reflection of her and the spirit of her book," Craig says, describing the moment when Blume gave her the rights as "wildly surreal".

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Prompted by her school assignment, Margaret asks her mother why she has never met her maternal grandparents. Barbara reveals that she is estranged from her devoutly Christian parents Paul and Mary, who disowned her upon her marriage to a Jewish man. On a weekend visit to New York City, Margaret asks Sylvia to take her to temple, which Sylvia gladly does. Meanwhile, Barbara attempts to fit in with the PTA and signs up for multiple committees, which draws her away from her hobby of painting and teaching art. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 2, 2020). "Lionsgate Wins Movie Auction For Seminal Judy Blume Novel 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret' ". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020 . Retrieved March 30, 2020. In February 2021, it was announced that Abby Ryder Fortson would star as the titular Margaret, with Rachel McAdams cast as her mother. [8] Kathy Bates was added to the cast in March. [9] In April, Benny Safdie joined the cast. [10]