It is a truth universally acknowledged that a streaming service in possession of good funds must be in want of a Jane Austen adaptation. And so Netflix is currently working on yet another Pride and Prejudice. Austen’s most popular novel is in a constant state of adaptation. Most recently, there was the gay-guy version, 2021’s Fire Island; and before that was the vlog version, 2013’s The Lizzie Bennet Diaries; and before that was the period-drama version, 2005’s Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley. That makes this the fourth major screen adaptation of the novel in the 21st century — and doesn’t even account for the continued popularity of the 1995 BBC miniseries version starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
Pride and Prejudice (Netflix’s version) is being written by Dolly Alderton, known for writing the 2018 memoir Everything I Know About Love, and it will be directed by Heartstopper’s Euros Lyn. Below, everything we know about this half-decade’s Lizzie, Darcy, and the ever-annoying Lydia.
Who’s in the cast?
The cast will be led by The Crown star Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Slow Horses star (slash Saoirse Ronan’s husband) Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy. They’re joined by Oscar winner Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet and the sexy, sometimes annoying daddy from The Diplomat, Rupert Sewell, as Mr. Bennet. Lizzie’s sisters will be Freya Mavor, known as the maligned Darya on Industry, as Jane; Rhea Norwood, a Lyn fave from Heartstopper, as Lydia; and newcomers Hope Parish and Holly Avery as Mary and Kitty, respectively. Jamie Demetriou, known as “Bus Rodent” on Fleabag, is Mr. Collins, while Good Luck to You, Leo Grande sex-symbol Daryl McCormack is Mr. Bingley and Disclaimer’s Louis Partridge is Mr. Wickham. The ever-imperious Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) and Adult Material star Siena Kelly round out the cast as Lady Catherine de Bourg and Caroline Bingley, respectively.
What do we know about the adaptation?
Netflix describes the miniseries as a “faithful, classic adaptation of the novel,” which should excite all the many Austen-heads. “Once in a generation, a group of people get to retell this wonderful story, and I feel very lucky that I get to be a part of it,” Alderton said, per Netflix. “Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy — it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life. With Euros Lyn directing our stellar cast, I am so excited to reintroduce these hilarious and complicated characters to those who count Pride and Prejudice as their favorite book, and those who are yet to meet their Lizzie and Mr. Darcy.” Hopefully, this makes a new generation of middle-school girls swoon.
When’s the release date?
Production in the U.K. is underway as of July 29, per Tudum. In the meantime, all the yearners can just rewatch their preferred previous adaptation a few more times.
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Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden star in a new miniseries adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel.
