<P> During filming of the original movies an open casting call was held throughout Canada in order to find a young actress to play Anne Shirley . Katharine Hepburn recommended that her great niece, Schuyler Grant, play the role of Anne Shirley . Director Kevin Sullivan liked Grant's performance and wanted to give her the role . However, broadcast executives were resistant to cast an American as a Canadian icon . Schuyler Grant ended up playing Anne's best friend, Diana, and Anne Shirley was ultimately played by Megan Follows . </P> <P> In her first audition, Megan Follows came highly recommended . But, she was quickly dismissed by Kevin Sullivan . For her second audition, after a turbulent morning leading up to her audition, a frantic Megan made a much better impression and was given the role . </P> <P> Anne of Green Gables is the first film in a series of four based on the titular character . In 1987, the film's sequel, Anne of Avonlea, was released . (It was subsequently retitled Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel on home video .) The final movie, Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, was aired on March 5, 2000 in Canada and on July 23, 2000 in the United States . The final film passed over Anne's House of Dreams--the corresponding Anne novel--in favor of a plot not featured in Montgomery's series, and did not receive the same critical praise as the first two films . In 2008, the fourth in the series, titled Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning was completed . The film stars Barbara Hershey, Shirley MacLaine, and Rachel Blanchard and it introduces Hannah Endicott Douglas as the new Anne Shirley . The film is both a sequel and a prequel to Sullivan's trilogy . </P> <P> The first two Anne films generated a spin - off television series which aired from 1989 to 1996 and starred Sarah Polley . The Road to Avonlea series featured characters and episodes from several of Montgomery's books . Anne herself did not appear in the episodes, but Gilbert Blythe, Marilla Cuthbert, and other characters from the Anne books were included . </P>

The order of anne of green gables movies
find me the text answering this question