Sequels and Spin-off
Anne of Green Gables is the first film in a trilogy of movies based on the titular character. In 1987 the film's sequel, Anne of Avonlea, was released. (It was subsequently retitled Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel on home video.) In the United States the final movie, Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, was aired on July 23, 2000, and aired on March 5, 2000 in Canada. The final film passed over Anne's House of Dreams - the corresponding Anne novel - in favor of a plot not featured in Montgomery's series, and did not receive the same critical praise as the first two films.
The first two Anne films generated a spin-off television series which aired from 1989 to 1996 and starred Sarah Polley. The Road to Avonlea series featured characters and episodes from several of Montgomery's books. Anne herself did not appear in the episodes, but Gilbert Blythe, Marilla Cuthbert, and other characters from the Anne books were included.
In 2008, the fourth in the series, titled Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning was completed. The film stars Barbara Hershey, Shirley MacLaine, and Rachel Blanchard and it introduces Hannah Endicott Douglas as the new Anne Shirley. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to Sullivan's trilogy.
In 2000 - 2001, Sullivan Animation produced Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series consisting of 26 half hour episodes. The series was developed for PBS and each episode contained an educational and/or moral component. In 2005, Sullivan Animation also produced the feature length animated film Anne: Journey to Green Gables which is an imaginative, whimsical prequel to Sullivan's live action Anne of Green Gables film.
Read more about this topic: Anne Of Green Gables (1985 film)