I’ll only watch another Pride and Prejudice remake on one condition
Not another one.
I hate to say it but not even Olivia Colman can tempt me to feel excited about another rehash of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
We already have two beloved adaptations, so I can’t think of anything more dull than another basic remake — no matter how many Oscar winners Netflix casts.
However, if this six-part series must go ahead, there is one adaptation that I am begging Dolly Alderton, the writer, to take inspiration from: Bridget Jones.
Go modern and reinvent the story.
The iconic 00s film was so undeniably brilliant that most of us forget it is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, even if Mr Darcy’s name remained unchanged.
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And Bridget Jones wasn’t a fluke, either.
Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of the greatest adaptations (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)Clueless is another beloved Austen modernisation, meanwhile, Shakespeare got an overhaul in 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s The Man, and Anyone But You.
Some of the most high-regarded rom-coms are these types of contemporary reimaginings, and romance fans have been screaming for more of these twists on classics.
However, studios stubbornly stick to churning out known IPs in an attempt to manufacture an assured hit.
Classic novels appear to be the flavour of Hollywood right now, with Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Wuthering Heights already taking a beating from fans.
Can anyone truly compete with Colin Firth as Darcy? (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)The last time Netflix decided to take on Jane Austen, we ended up with 2022’s Persuasion, which sits at an embarrassingly low 30% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Attempting to modernise without going all in was the fatal flaw for this film. It missed the full-blown modern pull while ditching the period charm of 2020’s Emma or the older Pride and Prejudice adaptations.
And these Pride and Prejudices did it so well.
Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen deftly navigated the dance of Elizabeth and Darcy in 2005, scoring Academy Award nominations in multiple categories.
The straight adaptations we already have are basically flawless (Picture: Working Title/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)Then there’s the Colin Firth 1995 TV version, which again landed BAFTA nominations and a place in all romance-lovers’ hearts.
With such an impressive legacy, there’s no way this new series can be better than those classics, so it must be decidedly different.
Transforming Pride and Prejudice into something new is the only way to save this new series from a painful reboot fate.
The casting announcement has given me some hope that this will have the energy I’m desperate for, as Netflix has revealed Emma Corrin will star as Elizabeth Bennett.
Emma Corrin will star as Elizabeth Bennett in the new adaptation (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)Casting a non-binary actor could open doors to play with the expectations and give us something truly exciting.
In more conventional choices, Mr Darcy will be played by Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden, while powerhouse Olivia Colman is Mrs Bennett.
I’m not holding my breath for a Bridget Jones-level departure from the novel, but I have faith in Dolly to bring something (anything) creative to the table.
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