Emma Watson Squeezes Into Cast of Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women' Adaptation

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic “Little Woman” has found a different Emma.

Emma Watson is joining the Sony project in a role that was initial intended for Emma Stone, after Stone was unable to board the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Watson, who starred in Disney’s 2017 live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast,” one of the year’s highest-grossing films, joins a loaded cast that includes “Lady Bird” stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet, as well as Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Florence Pugh and James Norton.

Also Read: Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet in Talks to Reteam for Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women'

“Little Women” follows teenage sisters Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg and their mother Marmee during Civil War-era Massachusetts and details the sisters’ passage from childhood to womanhood as they navigate their new town, true love, and their first holiday without their pastor father.

It’s not clear who will be playing what role yet.

Gerwig, who was nominated for best director and best original screenplay for last year’s “Lady Bird,” was initially brought on board to rewrite the script for the project, which has been in development a while at the studio. She will now also direct the film.

“Little Women” was last adapted to the screen in 1994 in an Oscar-nominated Gillian Armstrong film starring Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon and Christian Bale.

Also Read: Emma Watson Sports 'Time's Up' Tattoo After the Oscars (Photo)

Amy Pascal is producing, along with Denise Di Novi and Robin Swicord. Andrea Giannetti will oversee the production for Columbia Pictures.

Watson is managed by Untitled Entertainment and repped by CAA.

Variety first reported the news.

Every Female Director Nominated for an Oscar, From Lina Wertmuller to Jane Campion (Photos)

The Academy has only nominated seven women in the Best Director category in its storied history. Here they are.
Lina Wertmuller, "Seven Beauties" (1976) • The first woman ever nominated in the category was this Italian director for a drama about an Italian solider who deserted the army during WWII and is sent a German prison camp. She lost to John G. Avildsen for "Rocky."
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Jane Campion, "The Piano" (1993) • The Australian director won an Oscar for her original screenplay for the period drama but lost the directing prize to Steven Spielberg for "Schindler's List."
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Sofia Coppola, "Lost in Translation" (2003) • The daughter of Oscar-winning "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola picked up her first nomination for the quiet Japan-set character study, but lost to Peter Jackson for "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King."
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Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" (2009) • Bigelow not only scored a nomination, but managed to defeat her ex-husband James Cameron, whose "Avatar" scored Best Picture.
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Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird" (2017) • The indie actress wrote and directed this feature, her first as solo director, based on her upbringing in Pasadena, Calif. But Guillermo del Toro took the prize for "The Shape of Water."
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Chloé Zhao, "Nomadland" (2020) • The Chinese-born actress earned a nomination for her third feature film, which she also wrote. She became the first Asian woman to win the directing prize.
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Emerald Fennell, "Promising Young Woman" (2020) • The London-born actress turned writer-director scored a nomination for her debut feature, starring Carey Mulligan. She lost to Chloé Zhao for "Nomadland."
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Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog" (2021) • Campion became the first woman to earn a second directing nomination for her work on this Western that nabbed 12 nominations in all.
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