Netflix's New 'Baby-Sitters Club' Trailer Is Just What We Need Right Now
Much to the delight of 80s and 90s kids everywhere, Netflix announced last year its intent to transform Ann M. Martin's beloved Baby-Sitters Club book franchise into a family-friendly TV series.
Even though the books have been adapted for the screen before — via a short-lived series in 1990 and a feature film in 1995 — the streaming giant is hoping to share the adventures of Kristy Thomas, Mary-Ann Spier, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, and Dawn Schafer with a whole new generation.
To get the scoop on what dedicated Baby-Sitters Club fans and newcomers to the teenage world of Stoneybrook, Connecticut can expect from Netflix's adaptation, Good Housekeeping spoke to Alicia Silverstone, who plays Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer (a.k.a. Kristy's mom) in the new series.
Based on our convo with Alicia and gathering info from around the internet, here's what we know about The Baby-Sitters Club reboot on Netflix:
What will The Baby-Sitters Club be about?
In a nutshell, the contemporary dramedy will champion friendship, female empowerment, and entrepreneurship, as well as tackle some heavier subjects that teenagers face, including parental divorce and racism.
Speaking about one plot line in particular, Alicia reveals that because of her character's love interest, Watson Brewer (who will be played by Mark Feuerstein), Elizabeth will go through an up-and-down period with Kristy.
"My character is a single mom to four children. That is a lot. Three of them are boys. So she's got a lot on her plate and she doesn't have a lot of money and she's just trying to make it," Alicia explains. "And then there's Kristy, and Kristy has been watching her mom be a strong woman. So now that this man comes into her life, it's really messing with Kristy's head."
While this storyline will be covered in the series, Alicia makes it clear that the focus will not be on the adults, but rather on the dynamic between the teenagers (just like the books intended).
"The adult characters are just really supporting characters," she clarifies. "This show is about these five girls trying to figure this stuff out, you know? Finding yourself ... all the juicy stuff."
When will The Baby-Sitters Club be released on Netflix?
Very, very soon! The series will be available on Netflix on Friday, July 3, 2020. To announce the amazing news, the streaming platform shared a preview featuring some of the cast members. Take a look below:
Who will be in the cast of The Baby-Sitters Club?
The main cast includes Sophie Grace (Kristy Thomas), Malia Baker (Mary Ann Spier), Momona Tamada (Claudia Kishi), Shay Rudolph (Stacey McGill), and Xochitl Gomez (Dawn Schafer).
When it comes to Kristy in particular, Alicia explains to us that folks can expect to see the same tough-as-nails leader in the books come to life on screen.
"She's really strong and really powerful and really smart and kind. She's a wonderful character, Kristy," Alicia gushes. "And she's just so good at taking responsibility and owning up, and she's a control freak. And she's learning she can't be in control all the time, which is a hard thing to learn for all of us."
One change from the book is that Dawn is Latina in the Netflix series. "I think it's important that it's shown because not many Latina girls are out there [on TV]. So I feel like having her as a character is really great and can really open some doors," Xochitl told Seventeen.
Will writer Ann M. Martin be involved with the reboot?
Yes, in fact, Ann is one of the producers of the series. So far, she's had nothing but wonderful things to say about the Netflix adaptation.
“I’m amazed that there are so many passionate fans of The Baby-Sitters Club after all these years, and I’m honored to continue to hear from readers — now grown, who have become writers, editors, teachers, librarians, filmmakers — who say that they see a reflection of themselves in the characters of Kristy and her friends," she said in a statement. "I’m very excited about the forthcoming series on Netflix, which I hope will inspire a new generation of readers and leaders everywhere."
How can I watch The Baby-Sitters Club?
The Baby-Sitters Club will be available exclusively on Netflix, which means you need an account with the streaming service to watch it. If you don't have a Netflix login, you can sign up for a free month trial (which you can cancel at anytime). After that, plans start at $9 per month.
Once you have Netflix, you can download the app and watch it on your smart TV, game console, smart phone, and more devices.
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