Who among us hasn’t swooned at Colin Firth’s lake scene or Matthew Macfadyen’s hand flex? Both the 1995 BBC miniseries and the 2005 feature film adaptations of Pride & Prejudice have given us so much to love, building on the versions that came before. The next studio to take a stab at this timeless Jane Austen classic? Netflix.
Netflix has announced it is producing a six-part limited series of Pride & Prejudice, set to film in the U.K. later this year. The streamer has promised that the show, directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper) and written by best-selling author Dolly Alderton, will “hew closely to the original text, reuniting existing fans with the timeless novel, while also introducing a new generation to Austen.”
Romance as a genre has arguably never been more culturally relevant, and Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice is a foundational story. Netflix has a lot to live up to.
So, who will we grace our screens instead of Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen? Netflix has cast Emma Corrin (The Crown, Nosferatu) and Jack Lowden (Dunkirk, Slow Horses) as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, respectively. Neither Corrin nor Lowden are strangers to British period dramas, and there is no denying they’re both wonderfully talented actors. Emma Corrin was a revelation as Princess Diana in The Crown—I’m sure they’ll nail this.
So far, only one other role has been filled, as Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Favourite) has officially been confirmed to portray the ever-nervous Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s mother. Now, I love Brenda Blethyn’s performance in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice—she’s wonderful and I miss Vera—but let’s be honest, if anyone else is going to own this role, it’s Olivia Colman. Colman is an absolute powerhouse, and I’m so excited to see what kind of frantic energy she’ll bring to the part.
Further details remain under wraps for the time being, but Corrin, who will also be executive producing the series, shared their enthusiasm for the role with Netflix’s Tudum. “Playing Elizabeth Bennet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” they said. “To be able to bring this iconic character to life, alongside Olivia and Jack, with Dolly’s phenomenal scripts, is truly the greatest honor. I can’t wait for a new generation to fall in love with this story all over again.”
Who knows? Maybe this latest adaptation will create a moment so impactful it’ll be talked about for the next 20 years, too.
(featured image: Focus Features)
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