October 8, 2012 07:57 PM PDT

The CW Eyes Reese Witherspoon-Produced, Female-Led Great Expectations Update

by Kimberly Roots

Get More: News, Pilots

The CW has great expectations for an updated classic, backed by a movie star.

The network has given a script order to Expectations, an updated series version of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations novel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reese Witherspoon would be an executive producer on the project, via her Pacific Standard production company.

Dickens’ Victorian coming-of-age tale follows Pip, a poor male orphan whose lot in life is significantly changed when a mysterious benefactor allows him to enjoy a gentleman’s life. Expectations reportedly will tell the story of a provincial girl who has a tough time in modern-day San Francisco until an anonymous donor smooths her path.

The CW is also considering a Wonder Woman origin tale and contemporary takes on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Alice in Wonderland for its upcoming slate.

Follow @kimroots

Tags: Expectations, Reese Witherspoon, The CW

Comments (16)

Wow this is a totally original idea. OH WAIT! Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Can that series get some love please?
Comment by madhatter360 – October 8, 2012 08:14 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- No.
  Comment by popculturewithkyle – October 9, 2012 06:23 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Awesome! Would definitely check this out if it gets made. And with Reese behind it!
Comment by mia – October 8, 2012 08:25 PM PDT Reply To This Post
If I were a high school english teacher I’d probably consider removing Great Expectations from the reading list.
Comment by kavyn – October 8, 2012 10:49 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- …Or is that just a Canadian (Ontario) thing?
  Comment by kavyn – October 8, 2012 10:50 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Her name’s gonna be Pippa, right?
Comment by Summer – October 8, 2012 11:05 PM PDT Reply To This Post
SMG after “Ringer” is gonna come back?
Comment by Reward – October 8, 2012 11:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Two things I never thought I’d hear in the same breath: Charles Dickens and The CW.
Comment by JC – October 9, 2012 12:30 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Wow so all original ideas then! Wait nooooo! How lazy has the CW become, everyone of these is an adaptation!
Comment by Kate McKenna (@Katemadeleine) – October 9, 2012 03:05 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Seems to me it’s My Daddy-Long-Legs not Great Expectations.
Comment by judie – October 9, 2012 03:23 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Dear Daddy Long Legs
  Comment by Denna – October 9, 2012 03:33 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Yes, I’d check this out for sure. Classic story, still too relevant + a wide-ranging premise that can appeal to many demos.
Comment by nadine – October 9, 2012 06:36 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Seriously, why The CW has no original ideas? It’s surprising they even bothered to cast Reese Witherspoon here. I’m pretty sure they’ll have some new show with Blake Lively or Leighton Meester next fall, they’re always recycling their stars.
Comment by Goku – October 9, 2012 09:29 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- They didn’t cast Reese Witherspoon – - she’s an executive producer.
  Comment by Summer – October 9, 2012 12:00 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Oh, sorry I haven’t read all the article. So they will probably cast someone from their previous shows here .
    Comment by Goku – October 9, 2012 02:24 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- i’m sure Blake and Leighton are glad that they can finally escape the CW’s grasp and fully delve into their film careers now.
  Comment by zan – October 9, 2012 02:49 PM PDT Reply To This Post

The CW Eyes Reese Witherspoon-Produced, Female-Led Great Expectations Update

Comments (16)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Today's Hottest Stories

Variety

DeadLine

BGR

HollywoodLife

Video