PEI

Behind the scenes on the newest Anne of Green Gables series

Production of the newest television version of Anne of Green Gables is currently in production in Ontario.

Shooting of the latest Anne television show is in full swing in Ontario

Amybeth McNulty plays Anne and  R.H. Thomson, who starred in Road to Avonlea, plays Matthew in the new series, simply called Anne.
Amybeth McNulty plays Anne and R.H. Thomson, who starred in Road to Avonlea, plays Matthew in the new series, simply called Anne. (Anne The Series/Facebook)

Shooting the newest adaptation of the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables is well underway in Ontario, and some shooting did take place late this summer on Prince Edward Island, although details are scarce.

CBC is part of the team bringing the show to air, but the network is not involved in production — so while CBC P.E.I. has an interview scheduled this week with the show's executive producer, Miranda de Pencier, we decided to see what we could deduce now from social media.

The eight-episode series is being brought to the screen by Netflix and CBC, written by Breaking Bad writer Moira Walley-Beckett, and called simply, Anne.

We forgive you if you're confused: call it a case of too many Annes.

Earlier this year, author Lucy Maud Montgomery's heirs were involved with Breakthrough Entertainment in a new television series entitled L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, starring Martin Sheen as Matthew. At about the same time its first episode aired (two more are now in production), a second made-in-Canada series about the redheaded orphan was announced. 

Shooting on P.E.I. 

Moira Walley-Beckett's and Instagram posts reveal a few tidbits about the new Anne: firstly, Walley-Beckett was here shooting on P.E.I. in September, after location scouting in August. This photo was taken in Alexandra, P.E.I., near Stratford. 

There is a Lake of Shining Waters in Park Corner, P.E.I., so named by descendants of L.M. Montgomery. 

But it looks like the Lake of Shining Waters that featured prominently in the Anne books and will also be featured in the show is this lake in Ontario.

'A beautiful moment'

Series star Amybeth McNulty, 15, had a memorable moment two weeks ago during filming she describes on Instagram:

"Highlight of my day? When three beautiful girls around the ages of nine skipped up to me (While I was in my Anne costume I should add) while squealing quietly, asking me questions and telling me they've read ALL of the my books and how happy they were to meet me?! For them to believe in me, not as 'Amybeth' but as ANNE? It was a beautiful moment I shall cherish forever."

Authenticity is important

The show was searching for an authentic 1800s steam engine and it looks like they found it — this post by Walley-Beckett is from shooting in Ontario a couple of weeks ago. 

There's a miniature horse named Wee Willie who is a crew favourite. Walley-Beckett posted this on Instagram from Caledon, Ontario. 

Liquid inspiration?

While writing Anne, Walley-Beckett enjoyed some of the whiskey on offer in Toronto, posting on Instagram, "They named a whiskey for me!"  

This version of the Anne story will be "entirely different," Walley-Beckett has said. "We're off-book... we're telling a new story." She has promised a grittier, more realistic version of the story, which sees the 13-year-old Anne re-homed with elderly brother and sister Matthew Cuthbert, played by R.H. Thomson, and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James).

The series is scheduled to air in the spring of 2017. 

The P.E.I. government did not provide funding for it, nor was it asked to, a spokesperson told CBC News. 

Corrections

  • A previous version of this story stated Anne is 11 years old, as she is in the original book. In fact, in this production she is 13 years old. It also named Moira Walley-Beckett as a co-writer, when in fact she is writing the entire series.
    Nov 28, 2016 5:01 PM AT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Fraser

Web Journalist

Sara has worked with CBC News in P.E.I. since 1988, starting with television and radio before moving to the digital news team. She grew up on the Island and has a journalism degree from the University of King's College in Halifax. Reach her by email at sara.fraser@cbc.ca.