Corus Entertainment announced today it has commissioned Good Stars and Fire & Dew, the second and third instalments of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series of films produced by Breakthrough Entertainment. Ella Ballentine (Anne Shirley), Martin Sheen (Matthew Cuthbert), and Sara Botsford (Marilla Cuthbert) return for the sequels. L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables: Good Stars and Fire & Dew have begun production and will premiere on Corus Entertainment’sYTV.
Following the successful world broadcast premiere of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables on YTV, Breakthrough Entertainment’s Joan Lambur, Peter Williamson, and Ira Levy are back to executive produce the next two movies, along with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler. Award-winning director John Kent Harrison, who also wrote Good Stars returns, as well as Susan Coyne who wrote Fire & Dew.
“L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is as iconic as it is Canadian and we’re proud to be adding two more films to our repertoire,” said Daniel Eves, Senior Vice President, Kids and General Entertainment Content, Corus Entertainment. “This greenlight of two new Anne of Green Gables films is part of Corus’ ongoing commitment to producing and presenting the best Canadian kids content for families across the country.”
“It’s an honour and a privilege to continue to tell the tales of Anne Shirley,” said Joan Lambur, Executive Producer, Breakthrough Entertainment. “There are so many relevant and powerful themes present in Anne Shirley’s adventures in Green Gables, and through our partnership with Corus we will continue to tell these stories and a new generation will experience watching Anne grow into the inspirational character we have loved for years,” said Peter Williamson, Executive Producer, Breakthrough Entertainment.
In Good Stars; our beloved Anne Shirley turns thirteen and faces a host of new milestones: first sleepovers, culinary misadventures, and shifting relationships with her bosom friend Diana and academic rival Gilbert Blythe. Through all this, Anne strives to strike a balance between becoming an upstanding, sensible young woman, and embracing her inquisitive and free-spirited nature.
In Fire & Dew; Anne heads to Charlottetown to attend accelerated classes as she continues to work towards her dream of being a school teacher. While there, she is forced to adapt quickly to her new surroundings and classmates as she navigates her way through her first school experience outside of her beloved Green Gables. Anne finds herself facing daunting choices for her future, the stirrings of romance, and tragedy unlike anything she’s ever known. Meanwhile, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert contend with advancing age as they deal with financial challenges and creeping ailments.
Originally published back in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the tale of Anne Shirley and her adventures in Green Gables span over 8 novels and has reached readers in over 20 languages.
“Since this story and its beloved characters have been a part of my family for generations, it makes me happy to see Anne Shirley continue to inspire children worldwide,” said Kate Macdonald Butler, Executive Producer and granddaughter of Lucy Maud Montgomery. “My grandmother would be incredibly proud of the direction Breakthrough has taken her classic tale and how families continue to bond over the lessons Anne learns through her adventures.”
The first film in the series has been watched by families worldwide through broadcasters Corus Entertainment in Canada, PBS in the United States, ITV in the UK, ARD in Germany, and a recent theatrical release in Australia and New Zealand.
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