Skip to main content
television

Moira Walley-Beckett accepts the award for outstanding writing for a drama series for her work on "Breaking Bad" at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Aug. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles.Chris Pizzello/The Canadian Press

"Anne of Green Gables" is getting a reboot.

CBC-TV says it has greenlit the TV series "Anne," a new adaptation of the children's novel "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

The public broadcaster has ordered eight episodes. Production is set to begin this spring with a premiere expected in 2017.

The international co-production is created, written and executive produced by "Breaking Bad" writer Moira Walley-Beckett.

CBC says the series will follow the book's coming-of-age storyline but "will also chart new territory."

That includes tackling issues around identity, sexism, bullying, prejudice and trusting one's self.

"Adapting Anne's story really excites me," Walley-Beckett said Tuesday in a release.

"Anne's issues are contemporary issues: feminism, prejudice, bullying and a desire to belong. The stakes are high and her emotional journey is tumultuous. I'm thrilled to delve deeply into this resonant story, push the boundaries and give it new life."

CBC says that like the book, "Anne" will centre on a young orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with an elderly spinster and her aging brother.

Over time, the feisty and imaginative 13-year-old transforms their lives and the small town in which they live.

Also involved are Canadian producer Miranda de Pencier, whose most recent credits include the films "Thanks for Sharing" and "Beginners."

The project also includes Alison Owen and Debra Hayward of the U.K.-based Monumental Pictures. Owen's titles include "Shaun of the Dead," "Suffragette" and "Temple Grandin," while Hayward's credits include "Pride and Prejudice," "About a Boy" and "Love Actually."

Interact with The Globe