Adaptations of Public Domain Works

I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with adapting public domain works. I’m currently in a waiting season with my first novel (I’ve sent it out to see if I can get any bites going the traditional way before moving on to indie publishing). In the in-between time I’m itching to work on a passion project I’ve had in mind for awhile- an adaptation of Anne of Green Gables with a focus on Anne and Gilbert. I know in recent years there has been several new takes on this story, modernizing it, putting Anne in a contemporary setting, etc., but I want to stay fairly true to the original, just with an emphasis on the relationship.

Does anyone have experience with a project like this? Maybe not personally, but perhaps know of any writers who’ve tackled this kind of thing? I’ve been researching the idea for awhile and can’t seem to come up with much info on writers doing adaptations that keep close to the original, other than the movie adaptations which stick pretty close to the original plot and dialogue. Almost everything I find discusses the adaptations that involved major rewrites, character changes, time changes, etc. My intent wouldn’t be to change the story… just open up more of the friendship-turned-relationship of Anne and Gilbert. But I’m curious how adaptations like that are received these days….

And for those who love Anne and her story, would you be completely turned off by an adaptation like I’m describing? There’s a small part of me that wonders if other writers would shun someone who dared touch the words in that book. 🫣