Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is heading back to the screen, this time as a six-part Netflix series. Bestselling author Dolly Alderton is teaming up with acclaimed director Euros Lyn to reimagine the beloved 1813 novel for a new generation.
More than 200 years after it was first published, “Pride and Prejudice” continues to shape the romance genre and captivate audiences around the world. Netflix confirmed that the adaptation will stay close to the original, hoping to satisfy longtime fans while introducing newcomers to Austen’s timeless world.
“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 told Netflix.
She added, “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. The book is a gift to adapt — packed with drama and depth as well as comedy and charm.”
The fresh cast for a classic tale
In April, Netflix announced the headline cast: Emma Corrin, known for her role in “The Crown,” as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy and Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet.
This week, Netflix released the rest of the cast, along with a first-look photo of the Bennet women.
Joining Corrin, Lowden and Colman are:
- Rufus Sewell as Mr. Bennet
- Freya Mavor as Jane Bennet
- Jamie Demetriou as Mr. Collins
- Daryl McCormack as Mr. Bingley
- Rhea Norwood as Lydia Bennet
- Siena Kelly as Caroline Bingley
- Louis Partridge as Mr. Wickham
Netflix’s full cast announcement can be found on its site, Tudum.
From 1938 to now: Austen’s story on screen
Austen’s classic has a long history on screen. The first adaptation of the 1813 novel aired in 1938 as a television series, shortly followed by a 1940 Hollywood film. Since then, there have been a number of adaptations of the story, according to IMDb.
The most widely known versions today include the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Bennet) and Matthew Macfayden (Mr. Darcy), and the BBC’s 1995 drama miniseries starring Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) and Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth Bennet), both of which have since been well loved by fans.
When to expect Netflix’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’
Netflix hasn’t announced a release date yet, but confirmed that production is currently underway in the U.K. Fans can stay tuned to Tudum, the “the official companion site to Netflix,” giving fans exclusive interviews, bonus videos and behind-the-scenes content.