Anne of Green Gables novels to come to big screen

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The Film Farm and Side Road Media plan a theatrical musical about the spunky redhead from Prince Edward Island after a series of TV adapations.

TORONTO -- The 1908 Canadian kids novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is getting a big screen musical treatment.

Canadian indie film producers The Film Farm and Side Road Media are to turn the long-running Anne of Green Gables - The Musical into a feature written by actor and playwright Kristen Thomson.

The musical is based on the Anne of Green Gables character in the Lucy Maud Montgomery novels that have sold 50 million copies worldwide.

STORY: New 'Anne of Green Gables' TV Series in Development

Stephen Traynor, Jennifer Weiss and Simone Urdl of The Film Farm will produce with Kelley Harron and Brian Robertson of Side Road Media.

Harron is the rights holder and daughter of original co-writer of the musical, Don Harron.

Elsewhere, Breakthrough Entertainment is at work on the latest TV series based on the Anne of Green Gables property.

That comes after the Disney Channel first bought into the heart-warming portrayal of small-town Canadiana when it acquired the Anne of Green Gables-spin off drama Avonlea from indie producer Sullivan Entertainment in the 1990s.

The Film Farm and Side Road's theatrical treatment of Anne of Green Gables - The Musical comes on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the live stage production next year.

"With the 50th anniversary of this beloved musical classic coming in 2014, it is the perfect time for a feature film version," said Harron in a statement.

The Film Farm is currently in post-production on Atom Egoyan’s The Captive, for a 2014 theatrical release.

Side Road Media Inc. is currently in development with Shaun Majumder on his feature film directorial debut.

Source - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-novels-624028