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Fans of Jane Austen’s work know the fear that comes with learning one of her novels is being adapted into a miniseries. From Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)1 to Persuasion (2022),2 there are many ways that her works have been modernized or modified. The grey cloud is back as Netflix announced they will create a new adaptation of the fan favorite Pride and Prejudice (1813).3
Austen’s world-building, character development, dynamics, and humor are just some of the reasons her novels are such successes. The book was released in 1813 and has captivated audiences for the last two hundred years.
Since its release, it has been named one of the world’s most loved books and has inspired hundreds of other media, like Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001).4 While there are so many beloved adaptations of her work, fans have reason to be nervous about a new reworking.
Audiences are typically hesitant5 when their favorite novels get into the hands of big studios. This isn’t just with Austen works, but any piece of media. The unknown makes fans fearful of what could happen to a world they love and have built up in their head. For years, this has been a topic among different fandoms6.
With Netflix’s announcement to adapt the novel Pride and Prejudice, people are putting their guards up. However, it seems the story may be in good hands. The exciting new writer and director duo, Dolly Alderton7 and Euros Lyn,8 have a pretty solid fan base and may just be the saving grace for this project.
Why Pride And Prejudice Still Resonates — Humor, Romance, & Jane Austen’s Timeless Appeal
Those who haven’t encountered Jane Austen’s work may find it all to be a bit boring. It’s a fair assumption, considering the language isn’t entirely accessible, and there’s obviously no way the jokes back then could still be funny today. However, fans of Austen will proudly defend her work.
If you are somehow unfamiliar with the story, there is a famous review that sums the story up incredibly well: “Just a bunch of people going to each other’s houses.” The story does have a little more depth than that, but essentially, yes, that would be correct.
To give a little more context, the story follows our protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, as she navigates life, courting, and being wrong. Coming from a large family of daughters, the eldest Bennet sisters, Lizzie and her sister Jane, are working towards finding respectable and wealthy suitors who can help them establish the rest of their family.
When a charming new bachelor comes to the country, Mr. Bingley, the Bennets are brought into his world, which, both regrettably and happily, includes the elusive, socially awkward, and incredibly rich Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth swears to hate him forever, but it seems the matter is out of her hands.
The story falls primarily under the romance genre, but there is no denying, at least as an Austen fan, that it is incredibly funny. The humor is subtle, but it is there. Perhaps it’s only truly noticeable to those who have seen it more times than what is considered normal, however, anyone who is able to pick up on it will certainly have a laugh or two.
The Wit Of Jane Austen — How Pride And Prejudice Uses Irony, Humor, & Social Commentary To Stay Relevant
Jane Austen was not shy about the realities that women had to face in Regency-era England. She capitalized off of it, poking fun at how ridiculous it was to be a woman at the time. Plus, like many comedians today, Austen’s humor was incredibly dry. Austen had a talent for turning the mundane into an entertaining moment. So, while her stories may just be about people going to each other’s houses, there are jokes spread throughout her novels.
In Pride and Prejudice alone, many moments make audiences laugh out loud. Austen often focuses on irony, which is something people may miss if they are unfamiliar with the context of society in those days. Even in the opening line of the book, Austen uses irony to capture the reader’s attention.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Sure, that may be the case for some, but that mindset was held by the women hoping to become wives. Austen’s bits are centered around society, class, and proper manners — an example being when Mr. Collins approaches Mr. Darcy, someone who is of a much higher rank than he is. If the reader is unaware of the societal rules, they likely had no idea the moment was a jab.
Mostly, Austen’s jokes were around the roles women played in society, as her protagonists were women. While understanding the context of the period is important, the favored adaptations, like Emma (2020),9 help viewers who are unfamiliar find the humorous moments, making the stories more accessible to a wider audience.
Meanwhile, some adaptations focus a little too heavily on proving that the story is funny, like Persuasion (2022), turning heartbreaking lines into cringeworthy moments. This is where audiences get weary of modern takes on classics.
Netflix’s Pride And Prejudice Adaptation — Cast, Creators, & Why Fans Are Hopeful
A Jane Austen adaptation can be excellent in the right hands — what the fans are worried about with this announcement is that Netflix won’t honor the original material. Well, good news! Netflix plans to make a faithful adaptation, and hopefully not one that will make viewers regret clicking ‘play.’
It seems there may be a bit of luck surrounding this project, as Netflix has confirmed that both Dolly Alderton, author of the adored memoir Everything I Know About Love (2018),10 and Euros Lyn, director of the Heartstopper series (2022- present)11 (which is another faithful adaptation), are going to bring the novel to life.
Alderton’s writing style is humorous and incredibly truthful, which may allow Austen’s tone to shine through. As for Lyn, his adaptation of the queer coming-of-age comic book series Heartstopper has been a project fans have praised since the release of the first season. Both take great care when it comes to their work and have the necessary skillset on paper, so we can only hope that they will be able to bring those talents to the big screen.
Speaking of talent, let’s talk about the Olivia Colman content we’ll get. That’s right: Olivia Colman is one of the actors tied to the film. She previously worked with much of the talent connected to this adaptation, like playing Nick Nelson’s mother on Heartstopper.
Colman is set to play Mrs. Bennet, our protagonist’s marriage-minded mother. She seems like the most logical option, as she has acted in period films before, playing Queen Elizabeth in The Crown (2016-2023)12 and Queen Anne in The Favourite (2018),13 as well as comedic motherly-figures (kind of) like she did in Fleabag (2016-2019).14
As for our two leads, Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden will take on the roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Corrin also starred in The Crown, playing none other than Princess Diana. She also starred in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022).15 Our new Mr. Darcy, Jack Lowden, also has a great resume, starring in Mary Queen of Scots (2018),16 Dunkirk (2017),17 and the new War & Peace18 mini-series that aired in 2016.
Both actors seem to have more than enough credibility to their names, so now audiences are just waiting to see how they choose to portray the famous couple.
Will Netflix Redeem Itself With Pride And Prejudice After The Persuasion Backlash?
Now that the names attached to the project are out in the open, does it actually make anyone feel better? Maybe — but there are still plenty of lingering questions: who else is in the cast, what’s the tone, where’s it set, what’s the vibe with costumes and production design, and so on. Until more details emerge, audiences are just riding that ongoing wave of uncertainty.
Audiences feel uneasy because of the infamous Persuasion adaptation in 2022. Netflix announced the film, and Austen fans immediately became cautious — rightfully so, as the film is commonly regarded as one of the worst films19 in recent years.
After the Persuasion nightmare, it’s bold that Netflix is hoping to fix their mistakes so quickly. But really, who needs:
“There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.”
When you can easily just say, “Now, we’re strangers. Worse than strangers. We’re exes.” I’m so sorry, Anne Elliot.
Regardless of your opinion on the 2022 film, it’s safe to say that the fleabag-ification20 of Jane Austen was less successful than they had hoped. Until Netflix shares more, we simply have to hope they’ve gotten over that phase and are willing to provide the faithful adaptation they’re promising.
There is time before the new mini-series is available for streaming. If you want to get ahead on your P&P viewing, the most popular adaptations are the BBC’s mini-series21 from the 1990s, with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and the 2005 adaptation22 starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.
Whether you love Jane Austen or not, the announcement of the Pride and Prejudice adaptation is stirring up industry news. With such a classic novel and many successful films, many are hoping the new mini-series will live up to its potential.
Footnotes
- Steers, Burr. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Cross Creek Pictures. 2016. ↩︎
- Cracknell, Carrie. Persuasion. Mad Chance. 2022. ↩︎
- Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 1813. ↩︎
- Maguire, Sharon. Bridget Jones’s Diary. Universal Pictures. 2001. ↩︎
- Jack, Lauren. Do We Really Need A Pride And Prejudice Netflix Series?. The Scotsman. October 18, 2024. ↩︎
- Elashoff, Allison. How Faithful Should Book Adaptation Be?. The Daily Fandom. September 5, 2023. ↩︎
- CW Agency. (2025). Dolly Alderton – C&W Agency. ↩︎
- Independent Talent. (2025). Euros Lyn – Independent Talent. ↩︎
- de Wilde, Autumn. Emma. Focus Features. 2020. ↩︎
- Goodreads. (2018). Everything I Know About Love. ↩︎
- Lyn, Euros. Heartstopper. Netflix. 2022- present. ↩︎
- Morgan, Peter. The Crown. Sony Pictures Television. 2016-2023. ↩︎
- Lanthimos, Yorgos. The Favourite. Fox Searchlight Pictures. 2018. ↩︎
- Waller-Bridge, Phoebe. Fleabag. Two Brothers Pictures. 2016-2019. ↩︎
- de Clermont-Tonnerre. Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Netflix. 2022. ↩︎
- Rourke, Josie. Mary Queen of Scots. Focus Features. 2018. ↩︎
- Nolan, Christopher. Dunkirk. Syncopy Inc.. 2017. ↩︎
- Harper, Tom. War & Peace. BBC. 2016. ↩︎
- Stevens, Dana. Netflix’s Persuasion Isn’t Just Bad Austen. Slate. July 13, 2022. ↩︎
- Turk, Jason. Breaking the Script (Phoebe Waller-Bridge — Writing Matches Tone). Medium. May 6, 2021. ↩︎
- Langton, Simon. Pride and Prejudice. BBC. 1995. ↩︎
- Wright, Joe. Pride and Prejudice. Focus Features. 2005. ↩︎