James L. Brooks Warned Judy Blume Not to Trust Hollywood. She Still Let Him Produce a Movie of ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’

To get the chance to make a movie of Judy Blumes Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret, producer James L. Brooks and writer and director Kelly Fremon Craig made the pilgrimage to the beloved authors home in Key West, Fla.

I spent most of our time with Judy warning her about Hollywood and all the things it will do to you basically, I warned her about folks like me, says Brooks, the Oscar-winning director of Terms of Endearment and the co-creator of The Simpsons and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Blume chose not to heed the admonition. By the end of their sit-down, Brooks, Craig and Blumes husband George were all hugging. The film rights were theirs. It turns out Brooks and Craig had an ace up their sleeve: Blume had loved their collaboration The Edge of Seventeen, a sensitively drawn look at a teenager navigating the minefield of high school while processing her dads death.Its a coming-of-age tale thats similar to Are You There God?, which depicts the challenges and mortifications of being on the cusp of puberty. On April 28, fans of the book will get to see how successfully Craig, Brooks and their collaborators pulled it off when the Lionsgate release opens in theaters.

Before cameras rolled, the filmmakers were clear that they werent interested in transplanting the story, first published in 1970, to the TikTok era.

It felt wrong to not have it in the 70s, says Julie Ansell, producer and president of motion pictures at Brooks company Gracie Films. Modernizing it by throwing in cellphones and social media would have muddled everything. Were talking about puberty and everything that comes with it, and thats timeless.

Even the most faithful adaptation wouldnt have worked if the filmmakers hadnt found the right actress to bring Margaret in all her funny, awkward, ever-questioning glory to life. They auditioned hundreds of girls before booking Abby Ryder Fortson, of the Ant-Man movies, for the title role.

There is something about Margaret as a character she reacts a lot and doesnt talk as much, says Ansell. When you watch Abbys face, you just know what shes feeling. Shes alive.

To Brooks, the movie also offers an overlooked perspective on the rocky transition into young adulthood. It may be the most female movie ever made, he says. Particularly in terms of the content. There are so many rites-of-passage movies for boys. This one is for women.

Brooks loves working with Craig and protecting her vision as a producer, but he hasnt stepped behind the camera since 2010s How Do You Know. Thats changing. Hes developing a script and expects to be in pre-production this fall. Is it a comedy or a drama?

I wouldnt classify it, he says. But at its core its a womans story.