CW, Reese Witherspoon Reimagining 'Great Expectations'

Reese Witherspoon

The CW is going to back to the classics.

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The youth-skewing network has given script orders for Expectations, described as a modern reimagining of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The CW's version of the literary classic, first published in serial form in the late 1860s, revolves around a small-town girl with big dreams of making it in the city who is quickly disillusioned by the harsh reality of living in San Francisco -- that is, until her fortunes unexpectedly turn thanks to an anonymous benefactor.

Lethal Weapon 4 co-producer Mills Goodloe, who is adapting Nicholas Sparks' The Best of Me for the big screen, is on board to write and executive produce the hourlong drama with Reese Witherspoon executive producing through her Pacific Standard shingle.

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Pacific Standard's Bruna Papandrea, Television 360's Meghan Lyvers and Evelyn O'Neill also will serve as executive producers on the CBS Television Studios project.

The Dickens story revolves around Pip, an orphan who encounters an escaped convict while visiting the gravesite of his parents and siblings. Years later, the now-wealthy ex-con returns the favor.

For Witherspoon, the project marks the latest in her small-screen producing endeavor. She also has the single-mom comedy Wendy & Peter set up at Fox.

At The CW, Expectations marks the latest remake this season, joining a contemporary Alice in Wonderland drama from The Playboy Club's Chad Hodge, as well as a Wonder Woman origin story and Sleepy Hollow reboot.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit