Judy Blume Scoffs at Roald Dahl Books Being Rewritten for Offensive Language: ‘I Don’t Believe in That’

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. A new documentary about Judy Blume sheds light on the profound impact that the beloved children’s book writer had on a whole generation of young girls.

Legendary author Judy Blume has written 29 books and swore the only one she would never consider selling for the screen was 1970’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, her timeless coming-of-age book that became a rite of passage for just about every girl, like Margaret, going from age 11 to 12, and probably their mothers as well. Blume held fast until 2018 when writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig and her mentor, Oscar-winning filmmaker James L. Brooks, came calling with just the right idea for an adaptation. The deal was sealed. The movie is here. Blume says she is probably the only author to say the movie is better than her book.

When it comes to young adult literature, there are few books as universally beloved and influential for preteen girls as “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” Judy Blume’s seminal 1970 novel. Tackling everything from boys to periods to religion, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” was a groundbreaking exploration of so-called taboo topics that plague all young girls.

As the working week nears its end, it’s time for some more great films and TV shows to drop on streaming services. If you’re wondering what new content you can sink your teeth into this weekend, we know just the thing.

EXCLUSIVE: There’s some seriously scary stuff going on at London’s National Theatre as the venue prepares for a musical version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches that will feature book and lyrics by playwright Lucy Kirkwood, who’s also an executive consultant on Succession.

The new Amazon Freevee original series Tribunal Justice is set to premiere with three episodes on June 9 in the U.S., UK, Germany and Austria with new episodes released every weekday through December 1. The first official trailer for the Judge Judy Sheindlin-created show is available above, featuring judges Patricia DiMango, Tanya Acker and Adam Levy—with the return of bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd.

Carla Renata Judy Blume is having a major moment. Not only did Prime Video just release a documentary about her life, “Judy Blume Forever,” but Hulu recently also announced it’s turning her book, “Summer Sisters,” into a limited series. And on April 28, a film adaptation of “Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret?” will be in theaters. “I needed to read everything she ever wrote because she just wrote the truth about what it felt like to be that age,” the film’s director Kelly Fremon Craig told Variety at the movie’s Los Angeles premiere on Saturday.  Craig wrote a letter to Blume asking to adapt the YA novel. The author was already a fan of Craig’s “The Edge of Seventeen.” “I knew she was the right one. I couldn’t be happier. I may be the only book writer who has ever said that the movie is better than my book, and I mean it,” said Blume, who was recently honored by Variety at its Power of Women luncheon. “This wonderful group has given me the gift of lifetime.”

the Sunday Times. She was discussing her long career and the upcoming adaptation of her book, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” starring Rachel McAdams. Reporter Hadley Freeman also asked Blume about fellow popular children’s book author J.K. Rowling, 57, who has become a controversial figure for her views on the transgender community, for which Rowling has received death threats.

Judy Blume is speaking out and setting the record straight over her comments about J.K. Rowling.

Sunday Times on Sunday, saying the British paper took out of context her quotes saying she was “behind J.K. Rowling 100 percent,” sparking a backlash from the trans community.

The Dalai Lama has issued an apology after a viral video showed him asking a young boy to "suck my tongue".

Irish Oscar winner Martin McDonagh has complained of theatres refusing to perform his work because he would not agree to changes in the language. 

After being married for 35 years and on our screens together for around the same time, it’s hard to imagine TV couple Richard and Judy without Richard or without Judy. The journalist duo, who first met while they were working together back in the early 80s, are one of showbiz’s most recognisable and long-standing couples. From presenting This Morning together from 1988 to 2001 to fronting their own show, Richard & Judy, the pair are still going strong, with the couple’s daughter, Chloe, 35, even admitting that her parents spend every waking moment together.

Ask anyone over a certain age who the iconic hosts of This Morning are, and you might find it's not Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield that is their reply.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical reclaims its title of the UK’s Number 1 film.

Selome Hailu Judy Blume stood up for the right to read at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon, presented by Lifetime, in New York City on Tuesday. The resident Floridian spoke passionately against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent moves to censor public education in the state. “I live in Key West — even though we like to pretend it’s not in Florida — we have the same governor,” Blume said to the crowd. “A governor who wants to control everything, starting with what kids can think, what they can know, what they can question, what they can learn, and now even what they can talk about. We have a legislator who’s trying to put through a bill preventing girls in elementary school from talking about periods… Good luck there.”

The new trailer for Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City, has just dropped, and fans can’t believe how different Scarlett Johansson looks in it. In the trailer, Scarlett can be seen with ultra short dark curls piled on top of her head in a style closely resembling actress and singer Judy Garland.

Author Judy Blume says she worries about intolerance in the US, following the removal in schools of some of her novels. 

He’s in a New York state of mind. When it comes to dining, there’s no greater place than New York City.

Amazon Studios has closed an exclusive multiyear first-look film deal with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, the company announced on Friday.Under the pact, Amazon Studios will have a first look on narrative features and documentaries Imagine Entertainment intends to produce.“Whether it’s a captivating drama like ‘Thirteen Lives’ or a poignant documentary like ‘Lucy and Desi,’ the team at Imagine Entertainment has an incredible gift for storytelling,” Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon and MGM Studios said in a statement. “As we look forward to more exciting projects on the horizon, we are honored to make our longstanding relationship official and to bring more powerful, engaging stories to audiences around the world.”“Brian, Ron, and I, along with our entire team at Imagine including Karen Lunder, President of Imagine Features, and Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries, couldn’t be more excited to have a home at Amazon and continue our shared desire to make tentpole films that inspire, elevate, and entertain audiences,” Justin Wilkes, President of Imagine Entertainment added.