Judy Blume's 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Filmed In North Carolina

Judy Blume attends The 2020 MAKERS Conference on February 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MAKERS)

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MAKERS

Judy Blume's beloved 1970 coming-of-age novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, is getting the movie treatment. The groundbreaking book tells the story of Margaret Simon, a sixth-grade girl with lots of questions about bras, boys, and other early-adolescent anxieties. It's still relatable today but, at the time of its publication, the groundbreaking novel was considered controversial for its frankness.

Variety is giving us our first look at some of the cast in Lionsgate's upcoming film adaptation. Margaret is played by Abby Ryder Fortson. The movie also stars Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie, and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates.

According to IMDb, much of the movie was filmed in North Carolina (Charlotte, Concord) during the spring and summer of 2021. The Foxcroft home of some friends of mine was used as the Simon family's suburban New Jersey house. It had just the right mid-century modern look. The McCelvey Center, originally Yorkville Female College, in York, South Carolina, served as Margaret's school.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen). Judy Blume, herself, is one of the producers. The film is due in theaters April 28th.

26 Movies That Turn 50 in 2023

A number of classic films turn 50 in 2023. These films also prove one very clear point: 1973 was one weird year for cinema!

In 1973, we saw one of the scariest movies ever released (The Exorcist), but we also saw one of the biggest tear-jerkers released (The Way We Were.) The year brought us coming-of-age tales (American Graffiti) and also one of the most bizarre twist endings of all time (Soylent Green.)

Without further ado, here are 26 movies that turn 50 in 2023.