(Updated 04/12/2023)
Are you there, Hollywood? It’s me, Judy Blume’s celebrated young adult novel from 1970. The coming-of-age story "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret" follows sixth-grader Margaret, who starts going through puberty and looks to the universe for guidance during life’s most difficult transitional period. After moving to the New Jersey suburbs from the Big Apple, she navigates the ups and downs of pre-teen life. But Margaret is also on a quest to discover her religious identity, having grown up in a mixed-religion household with her Christian mother and Jewish father.
Though Blume rejected offers to adapt her story to film for years, a pair of filmmakers finally won her over. And we couldn’t be more excited about it. Here’s everything we know so far about the ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET movie, including the first trailer.
The Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Release Date
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET will open exclusively in movie theatres on April 28.
Watch the Trailer for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
The trailer for ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET shows off the movie's vintage setting and fidelity to the novel.
The Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Cast
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET has an exciting cast, with rom-com queen Rachel McAdams playing the role of Margaret’s Christian mother, Barbara, while Benny Safdie (LICORICE PIZZA, GOOD TIME, UNCUT GEMS) will be playing her Jewish father. Margaret herself is played by Abby Ryder Fortson, who has appeared on the acclaimed Amazon series "Transparent," as well as in both ANT-MAN movies and A DOG’S JOURNEY.
Veteran actor Kathy Bates also appears in a supporting role as Margaret’s paternal grandmother, Sylvia.
The Creative Team Behind Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
The movie rights to ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET were initially sold to acclaimed director and screenwriter (and "The Simpsons" writer) James L. Brooks, alongside director Kelly Fremon Craig. The pair worked together worked on the 2016 coming-of-age movie THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN starring Hailee Steinfeld, which Fremon directed.
Fremon wrote and directed the adaptation of ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. And as the trailer shows, the movie is set in the 1970s, reflecting the novel's original era. Since THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN was a fantastic and heartrending film, we feel confident that Fremon and Brooks’ handling of ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET will be equally as fun, playful, and poignant. And guess who else loved THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN? That’s right, Judy Blume. After seeing that movie, Blume reached out to Brooks and Fremon Craig — and that started a conversation that eventually led to Blume offering them the coveted movie rights to her novel.
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET opens on April 28!
All images courtesy of Lionsgate.