Every generation gets its own version of Pride & Prejudice, just like Little Women and Wuthering Heights. For those who grew up in the mid-’90s, it was the beloved BBC adaptation with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (and that famous wet shirt scene). For millennials like me, it was Joe Wright’s stunning 2005 film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen—still, in my opinion, the best take on Austen’s classic. Now, Gen Z is getting their own adaptation: a six-part Netflix series with a dream cast.
On April 10, Netflix announced that Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin (The Crown, Lady Chatterley’s Lover) will play Elizabeth Bennet, while Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Mary Queen of Scots) takes on the role of Mr. Darcy. And who better to play the delightfully ridiculous Mrs. Bennet than Oscar winner Olivia Colman, reuniting with her Crown co-star Corrin?
More casting news followed in July: Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat, The Holiday) as the dry-witted Mr. Bennet; Freya Mavor (Industry) as sweet Jane Bennet; Rhea Norwood (Heartstopper) as the impulsive Lydia; and newcomers Hollie Avery and Hopey Parish as Kitty and Mary, respectively.
Rounding out the cast: Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes) as the roguish Mr. Wickham; Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag) as the awkward Mr. Collins; Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) as the amiable Mr. Bingley; and Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) as the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh—a role famously played by Judi Dench in 2005.
The series will be written and executive produced by Everything I Know About Love author Dolly Alderton, who called it “a joy” to revisit Austen’s work. “It’s the blueprint for romantic comedy,” she said in a statement.
Unlike Netflix’s recent, modernized Persuasion, this adaptation promises to stay faithful to the original novel. Directing is Heartstopper’s Euros Lyn, with filming already underway in the UK. A first-look image shows Corrin, Mavor, Colman, and the younger Bennet sisters in full Regency-era costumes.
No release date has been announced yet, but with this cast and creative team, it’s already one of the most anticipated Austen adaptations in years.A few key roles—most importantly, Elizabeth’s best friend Charlotte Lucas—are still up for grabs. Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.