Netflix continues its world domination. With so many projects forthcoming, the streaming giant is releasing news on a steady basis. Thanks to a daylong multi-panel event held in New York, we now have exciting casting news (Kate McKinnon!) and premiere dates for two highly anticipated titles from Netflix: “Anne of Green Gables” and “Casting JonBenét.”
“Saturday Night Live” breakout McKinnon has joined the cast of “The Magic School Bus Rides Again,” Netflix’s CG reimagining of the beloved ‘90s kids series, Deadline reports. The “Ghostbusters” actress will put her stamp of originality on yet another quirky character, bus driver Ms. Frizzle. In the original version of the PBS series Lily Tomlin voiced the character, and won an Emmy for her role. The eccentric science teacher takes her students on wild, immersive, and educational field trips — on the magic school bus — where they learn about topics as wide-ranging as digestion, baking, and space. “The Magic School Bus Rides Again” is expected to debut sometime this year.
McKinnon has voiced characters in films such as “Finding Dory” and “The Angry Birds Movie.”
Netflix also released more information about another bright and zany female protagonist, the young woman at the center of “Anne.” The eight-episode adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic book “Anne of Green Gables” will be available to subscribers beginning May 12.
The series centers on Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty, “Morgan”), a loquacious, dramatic, and imaginative orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with a middle-aged sister (Geraldine James, “Sherlock Holmes” franchise) and brother (R.H. Thomson, “Chloe”). The siblings wanted a boy to help them work on the farm. While 13-year-old Anne is not at all who they were expecting, the pair eventually come to accept and embrace her.
The project is headed by former “Breaking Bad” writer and Emmy winner Moira Walley-Beckett, who penned all of the episodes and is acting as showrunner. “Anne of Green Gables” has two other showrunners at the wheel as well: Alison Owen (“Saving Mr. Banks”) and Debra Hayward (“Bridget Jones’ Diary”). “Whale Rider” helmer Niki Caro directed the series’ premiere.
Of course, Netflix isn’t all about feel-good content. The company is also celebrated for their addictive and disturbing films and series, such as Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi’s hit docuseries “Making a Murderer.” Kitty Green’s “Casting JonBenét” tackles another controversial murder — child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey’s.
“Over 15 months, the filmmakers traveled to the Ramseys’ Colorado hometown to elicit responses, reflections, and even performances from the local community,” the doc’s official synopsis details. “In doing so, ‘Casting JonBenét’ examines how this crime and its resulting mythologies have shaped the attitudes and behavior of successive generations of parents and children.”
“Casting JonBenét” made its world premiere at Sundance last month. Green’s previous credits include “Ukraine is Not a Brothel” and “The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul,” the latter of which received Sundance’s 2015 Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction. “Casting JonBenét” will hit Netflix April 28.
Check out a teaser announcing “Anne’s” premiere date below. It features cameos from some of Netflix’s other ginger characters.
