Sony recently announced that Olivia Milch will be writing a new adaption of Little Women, the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women happens to be my favorite book, I must have read it ten times by now, and I’m also a huge fan of the 1994 film with Winona Ryder, Christian Bale and Susan Sarandon. Naturally, I had to create my dream cast for the upcoming retelling. Below are my picks for the new Little Women film.
Elizabeth Olsen as Meg March
Meg is the oldest of the four March sisters. She is mature and responsible but can also be vain and materialistic at times, perhaps because she is old enough to remember the time before their family lost their money. Meg is known to be a graceful, beautiful, and well-mannered young lady and despite her affinity for living a comfortable life, decides to marry for love instead of money. Elizabeth Olsen would be perfect for this role because she always comes off as graceful and mature. She’s a talented actress who has the right balance of maturity and youth to play Meg.
Jennifer Lawrence as Josephine March
Jo March is the second oldest March sister. She is an outgoing girl who shuns societal norms and wishes to support herself and her family by being a writer. Jo strikes out on her own and in her quest to get published meets the handsome Mr. Behr. She befriends Laurie when he moves in next door and their relationship serves as one of the main plot-lines of the story. Jennifer Lawrence has already shown us that she is just as talented and rambunctious and Jo March.
Ashley Bell as Beth March
Beth is the second youngest March sister. She is shy and quite, preferring to be home-schooled and do chores then go to parties and balls. She suffers from sickness throughout much of the book and is really the heart of the story. Ashley Bell is known for her role in The Last Exorcism and I think her quiet seriousness and sweet understated beauty would make her a good fit for Beth.
Joey King as Young Amy March
Because Little Women begins with Amy as a pre-teen, it makes sense that the 1994 film decided to recast the role halfway through once the character grows up. Amy as a child is an artistic but silly girl who wants desperately to fit in with her friends and can be selfish and spoiled at times. Joey King’s performances in The Conjuring was impressive enough to convince me that she could play the spirited young Amy.
Margot Robbie as Older Amy March
The second half of the book has Amy March in her late teens. She travels with her Great Aunt to Europe to study art and meets up with their old friend Laurie. Amy is still preocupied by her artisitc endeavors and the finer things in life but by now she has matured into a more compassionate and calmer individual. Margot Robbie is old enough to make a clear distinction between pre-teen Amy but young enough to keep the youthfullness you need for her role. Like her character on PanAm, she would bring a reserved beauty to Amy March.
Diane Lane as Marmie
Susan Sarandon was absolutely perfect as Marmie in the 1994 film, the girls’ headstrong and compassionate mother who teaches them about what truely matters in life and is constantely dedicating her time to helping others. She believes in women’s rights and equality and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Diane Lane would be perfect for this role as she is a beautiful and strong woman who could play the mother figure without being lost in it.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Laurie
Theodore “Laurie” Laurence (called Teddy by Jo) is a rich boy who moves in with his grandfather next door to the March sisters. He is constantly being pressured to become a scholar and a businessman but would rather spend his time galavanting through the woods with the girls, especially his best friend Jo whom he eventually develops feelings for. Aaron Taylor-Johnson would be my choice for Laurie because his endearing intensity and boyish charm makes him just as lovable as Laurie himself.
Goran Višnjic as Mr. Behr
Mr. Behr is the German professor who Jo meets in New York and ending up falling in love with as her patiently supports her writing and gives her some much needed advice. Gabriel Byrne played this character in the 1994 film and I think Goran Višnjic would be perfect this time around. He’s appropriately older than Jo and possesses equal parts maturity, intelligence, and good looks for the role.
Joshua Jackson as John Brooks
John Brooks is Laurie’s tutor who develops a crush on Meg. While it begins as a point the girls use to tease their older sister about, Meg eventually comes to love John back and marries him despite him not having a lot of money (and to the chagrin of Aunt March). Joshua Jackson has been flying a bit under the radar lately but I think he’d work well as the quiet and dignified John Brooks who wins sweet Meg’s heart.
Gena Rowlands as Aunt March
Aunt March is the girls’ great aunt who languors in her big house with her money disapproving of everything they and Marmie do. She wishes Meg to marry rich to help her family and although Jo serves as her loyal companion (until Amy takes over in the second half of the book and travels to Europe with her) she constantly chides her. She is the definition of a grumpy old woman although deep down she does mean well for her family. Gena Rowlands was amazing in The Notebook and I think she would fit this role nicely.
Timothy Dalton as Mr. Laurence
Mr. Lawrence is Laurie’s grandfather who at first comes across as stern, strict, and mean but eventually the girls come to learn he is just sad. Beth especially warms his heart and he rewards her with her own piano. He is the typical older man character with a hard exterior and soft interior. I’d love to see Timothy Dalton in this role because, well, it’s Timothy Dalton.
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