Author Judy Blume Is Having a Moment With Two Great Movies
Call this the year of Judy Blume. Almost every pre-teen remembers the moment when they opened up Blume’s classic books and suddenly felt like someone finally understood them. The 85-year-old has two new films coming out this year, one based on her best-selling novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and the other a documentary about her life and often controversial books. Blume has been writing books for children, teens and adults since 1959, helping people feel less alone, especially those who didn’t feel comfortable enough to talk about those awkward subjects with their parents or even best friends.
April 28 will see the theatrical release of the film based on the book from everyone’s childhood, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret starring Kathy Bates, Rachel McAdams, and Abby Ryder Fortson. Forston plays Margaret Simon, an 11-year-old who is forced to move from New York City to the New Jersey suburbs. The plot dives into relatable storylines of puberty and grade school friendships, along with religion. Margaret, who often talks to God, is discovering herself and her own beliefs as she’s raised by both Jewish and Christian parents.
A movie and documentary based on the work of Judy Blume come out this spring
The movie is also set to explore the loving yet tumultuous relationships between three generations of women. Long overdue to become a film, the novel was first released back in 1970 and met with backlash due to the book’s talk of religion and sexual topics. Despite being banned from many schools, it touched the hearts of kids everywhere and became a bestseller. It now has a spot in Time’s 100 best novels.
Dana Hawley/Lionsgate/Everett Collection
For fans of Blume, just before the release of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Prime Video is releasing a documentary about the life and career of Judy Blume called Judy Blume Forever. The documentary will detail her childhood, rise to fame, a deep dive into some of her specific novels, as well as how Blume continues to fight the status quo with her books.
Amazon Prime Video/Everett Collection
In the trailer she admits, “I grew up as a good girl with a bad girl lurking inside, so by the time I started to write I really had a lot to get out. I could be fearless in my writing in a way that maybe I wasn’t always in my life.” The documentary will also feature celebrity cameos including Molly Ringwald and Lena Dunham, who share how Blume’s books changed their life.
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Judy Blume Forever premiere on Prime Video on April 21, 2023. But that isn’t all! Netflix has reportedly ordered a new series called Forever based on the 1975 book by Blume. The series will follow “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts.” It will be a modern take on the book and 1978 TV movie of the same name. As of now, there is no release date for the show. Which Blume project are you most excited to watch?
Wonder Women
March 2018
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