The BBC's adaptation of Little Women has picked up some huge names, with Dame Angela Lansbury, Emily Watson and Michael Gambon all announced.
The three-part series based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel is being written by Heidi Thomas, who's already shown her talent at dramatising themes of sisterhood in her BBC One hit Call the Midwife.
Watson will be taking on beloved matriarch Marmee, while Dame Angela will be playing her wealthy and difficult relative Aunt March. Gambon will be kind-hearted neighbour Mr Laurence, and Jonah Hauer-King (the Howards End TV series) is young Laurie Laurence.
The four March sisters have also been cast – newcomer Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman) will play strong-minded and adventurous lead character Jo; Willa Fitzgerald of the Scream series will be eldest sister Meg; Gary Unmarried's Kathryn Newton is youngest daughter Amy; and Annes Elwy is Beth.
Little Women, published in 1868 as a novel, follows the moving journey of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March through the trials and tribulations of adolescence, first love and life during wartime.
It's been adapted numerous times since for stage and screen, with many holding dear the 1994 Gillian Armstrong film starring Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Winona Ryder and Claire Danes.
What to Read Next
The series is a co-production with Masterpiece on PBS. Principal photography begins this month in Ireland, with no air date set.
And it's far from the only exciting adaptation BBC One has coming up, with The War of the Worlds and Black Narcissus in the works, as well as ex-Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies's miniseries A Very English Scandal.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
