Here Bernet dreamcasts an adaptation of Beth Is Dead, her debut novel:
Beth Is Dead is a modern reimagining of Little Women as a mystery-thriller in which Beth March is found murdered in chapter one.Visit Katie Bernet's website.
Naturally, I’d melt into a puddle if Greta Gerwig directed the film adaptation. Her adaptation of Little Women reinvigorated my love for Louisa May Alcott’s classic, but I’ve been a Greta stan since the days of Francis Ha and Lady Bird. I’d flip to see her take on a mystery-thriller, and I can hardly imagine the fun of cozying up to her versions of Little Women and Beth Is Dead back to back to back forevermore.
Beth Is Dead is written from the alternating perspectives of all four March sisters—including Beth in flashback, so we’ll start by dream-casting the girls. They’re not redheads in the novel, but I think this redheaded quartet would do a fantastic job of modernizing the characters.
Madalaine Petsch could play Meg who’s a rising sophomore at Harvard. Sadie Sink could play Jo who’s amassed a social media following by posting personal essays and would do anything for a story. Evie Templeton could play Beth who faces an impossible decision between an elite boarding school for artists and her first love. Jessica Barden could play Amy who’s desperate to study art in Europe—even if it means taking money that’s always been earmarked for Beth.
Meg, Jo, and Amy each have motives for killing Beth, but they’re not the only ones with a story to tell. Suspects include modern versions of many beloved characters. Laurie could be played by Niles Fitch. John Brooke could be played by Joe Alwyn. Sallie Gardiner could be played by Maude Apatow. Fred Vaughn who’s reimagined as Amy’s problematic art mentor could be played by Cole Sprouse. And one of the Hummels who’s reimagined as Beth’s first love could be played by Mason Thames.
Oh, and Marmee who’s known simply as “Mom” in Beth Is Dead absolutely must be played by Amy Adams.
The Page 69 Test: Beth Is Dead.
--Marshal Zeringue
Posts
