Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Judy Blume’s beloved novel, has finally received the film adaptation treatment, but why did it take so long? Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a rather faithful adaptation of the book, which sees the titular Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) talking to God on her own while exploring her feelings on organized religion.
First published in 1970, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret touched upon subjects that were taboo to talk about, including periods. It usually isn’t long before popular novels — Interview with the Vampire, The Notebook, Stephen King and Jane Austen novels, and many others — are adapted to the big (and small) screen, but Blume’s most notable work arrives 53 years after being published. That’s a long time for such a well-known literary work, and a heavily challenged one as well, to be sitting on the shelf without landing a film adaptation deal. Of course, there are reasons behind the decision to keep Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret out of the realm of adaptations for so long.
Judy Blume Rejected Numerous Offers To Adapt The Book For 50 Years
Judy Blume has a history of rejecting offers to adapt Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. But it isn’t only this novel that Blume has turned down offers from producers. The author has detailed how disenchanted she has been with Hollywood’s approach to her work. Blume noted (via Entertainment Weekly) that most producers weren’t necessarily interested in her work personally, and the acquiring of rights to the books was more transactional than anything, a way to capitalize on Blume’s high-profile work without taking care to get it right. After all, there aren’t too many films centering preadolescent and teen girls from major studios. Blume wanted someone “who really was passionate about” the material.
Blume also didn’t like that many of the offers were to adapt her work to TV instead of movies. Blume became wary of adapting her work, as she didn’t have that many great experiences with the books that were adapted (mostly to series). Blume was, at one point, interested in adapting Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret if Abigail Breslin, of Little Miss Sunshine fame, played Margaret, but that didn’t pan out. While Blume turned down many offers to adapt her work, the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret proved that bringing the author’s work to the big screen just needed the right person to do it.
Why Judy Blume Finally Let Kelly Fremon Craig Turn It’s Me, Margaret Into A Movie
In recent years, Judy Blume softened to the idea of adapting her books to film. Crucially, Kelly Fremon Craig was passionate about Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. After rereading the book, Craig reached out to Blume, writing about how much the book meant to her, and how she read it during a time she needed it most (via Deadline). After, Blume gave Craig and producer James L. Brooks the rights to the beloved novel. It helped that Blume had seen and loved The Edge of Seventeen, which Craig wrote and directed. Craig may have been the one Blume needed all along to finally adapt Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
