Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy are set to return to the screen in Netflix’s new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The first full trailer offers a peek at the romance, family tensions and misunderstandings that have kept Jane Austen’s story alive for generations. The six-part series stars Emma Corrin as Elizabeth and Jack Lowden as Darcy, alongside Olivia Colman , Rufus Sewell and Fiona Shaw. the trailer also turns attention to the pressures facing women of the time, when marriage could shape not just their romantic lives but their entire future While the central love story remains unchanged.
About the release date
The six-part series, penned by Dolly Alderton and directed by Euros Lyn, will arrive on Netflix on December 3. The trailer opens with Elizabeth and her elder sister, Jane (Freya Mavor), stretched out on the rooftop at Longbourn, talking about their futures. Elizabeth can picture only a few paths for herself: becoming a governess, staying single or marrying and raising a family. The conversation captures the uncertainty facing the Bennet sisters in a society where women have little control over their lives. Jack Lowden’s Mr Darcy is harder to read. The trailer also offers glimpses of his growing attraction to Elizabeth, from lingering looks at social gatherings to a moment when he sits beside her at the piano. Neither appears willing to acknowledge their feelings just yet, setting the stage for the misunderstandings, wounded pride and quiet longing that define their relationship.
Previous adaptations
The 1995 BBC miniseries, led by Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, is still a fan favourite, while Joe Wright’s 2005 film, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, brought a more intimate, visually rich take on Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance. The 1980 BBC series and the 1940 Hollywood film approached Jane Austen’s novel differently, each putting its own spin on the much-loved story.
Adapting Pride and Prejudice is no easy task, given how deeply some of its earlier versions have stayed with audiences.
