“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is becoming a movie, and we now have our first look at the cast in action. The beloved Judy Blume novel, which was released in 1970, has been adapted for the screen by “Edge of Seventeen” writer Kelly Fremon Craig. She will also direct the movie, which stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular Margaret, Kathy Bates as the young protagonist’s grandma Sylvia, and Rachel McAdams as her mom, Barbara.
“The book is obviously about a young girl who is becoming a young woman and she’s embracing her womanhood,” Bates told People on Jan. 10. “And I think women throughout history have been taught to feel negatively about their bodies and about the processes that their bodies go through. I think this film will help young women feel better about their bodies.”
Author Blume has been a part of the process from the very beginning, selling the rights specifically to Fremon Craig and producer James L. Brooks. McAdams told People that Blume was very involved on set, and said she was honored to have the author there. “Watching her watch her book come to life and to be a part of that was just so surreal,” McAdams revealed to People. “She’s the loveliest lady and I felt very honored to be part of this for that reason. That she waited so, so long to do this until, until she felt really good about giving it over. I just wanted to do right by her and give her the best Barb I could.”
Ahead, learn more about the film’s cast, plot, and release date, and check out the first stills.