E.B. White’s timeless story of friendship and courage is back in a new way, and this time it’s aiming to connect with a whole new generation of families. HBO Max’s Charlotte’s Web, which debuted on October 2, boasts a super star voice cast and fresh family themes.

The three-part animated special takes the beloved book and expands on it, bringing deeper character backstories, fresh cultural touches, and a dream cast of voices to breathe new life into the barnyard.

At the center of this reimagined version is still the bond between Wilbur, the pig born a runt, and Charlotte, the empathetic barn spider who spins her webs to save him. But showrunner Luke Matheny wanted to offer audiences something even more.

“I was tasked with making three 44-minute episodes, which is a little more story than what’s actually in the book,” Matheny tells Parents.com in a recent interview.“I looked at it as an opportunity to flesh things out. When Charlotte spins the words ‘Some Pig,’ [kids reading the book] may not know where that came from. Did she hear someone say that? My goal was to deliver everything the book delivered—but then also make the [made-up backstory] feel like it was originally part of the book.”

The special, produced by Sesame Workshop, features an ensemble that feels tailor-made for the classic tale. Amy Adams lends her voice to Charlotte, while Elijah Wood voices Adult Wilbur and Griffin Robert Faulkner portrays Young Wilbur. Jean Smart narrates, with additional performances from Cynthia Erivo as Goose, Randall Park as Templeton, and Danny Trejo as Gander. Rosario Dawson, Ana Ortiz, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Patricia Richardson round out the cast.

“The nice thing about Charlotte’s Web is that every [actor] wants to do it—so we kept getting our first choice every time,” The special’s showrunner recalls. Of Adams in particular, he says, “I thought Amy Adams was a terrific match for the part. She brought so much to it.”

The 48-year-old explains how Adams approached Charlotte as a mix of mother, friend, and eccentric hero. “Amy had to figure out a way to loop these cooky qualities together with real heroic qualities at the same time. But I think those things are naturally in Amy Adams’ wheelhouse, since she’s a mom, herself. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”

While staying faithful to White’s vision, the new Charlotte’s Web adds cultural and family dynamics designed to resonate today. For example, Fern’s family is given a Puerto Rican background, inspired by real immigrant farming communities in 1949 New England.

“The sister conflict was one I felt that any family could relate to,” says Matheny. “Similar to the book, we set the story in 1949 New England. But we knew there were some Puerto Rican immigrant farmers there at that time, so it felt honest to include them. I like how the cast reflects the reality of that time, while also driving home some universal themes of today.”

Templeton the rat, meanwhile, is portrayed less as an outsider and more as the “uncle” of the family, an imperfect yet loving presence who adds humor and truth to the narrative.

Luke Matheny admits he wanted this adaptation to be “the deepest, most emotional version of the story.” That includes grappling honestly with Charlotte’s fate, which has always been one of the most heartbreaking moments in children’s literature. “One of the great gifts of the book is how candidly E.B. White deals with the [difficult] matters about the cycle of life,” he says. “And I hope that whatever big feelings erupt during family viewings can lead to a shared memory of having watched it together, and also a possible discussion about these important aspects of life.”

Charlotte’s Web first hit the theaters in 1973. Matheny hopes that the 43-minute digestible chapters become a way for a new generation to experience the magic created by E.B. White. Charlotte’s Web is now streaming on HBO Max. 

Photo Credit: HBO Max/IMDb.com