American Girl dolls headed to U.S. TV

LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- Julia Roberts' production company has developed a U.S. TV movie based on the popular American Girl dolls, it was reported Wednesday.

"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday," starring Mia Farrow and newcomer AnnaSophia Robb as the 10-year-old title character, is set to air in November on the WB, the New York Post said.

In the film, Samantha, who lives at the turn-of-the-century, is orphaned and lives with her grandmother, played by Farrow. At her grandmother's home, she befriends an Irish maid, also 10, and the two girls share many adventures.

Samantha is the first doll in the series, which includes dolls from various eras and nationalities, complete with storybooks and wardrobes.

"We had five or six people reading the scripts and overseeing what the characters wore and what their expressions were. The men and women who work at American Girl are fastidious about accuracy," said Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, the film's executive producer.

"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" is the first in what is expected to be a series of films, the Post said.