Netflix is ready to bewitch the old and new generations of viewers with a new Pride and Prejudice miniseries.
Over two centuries after her death, Jane Austin’s beloved stories, including Sense and Sensibility and Emma, continue to swoon the hearts of many readers. While they remain the arts of literary fiction, her novels have amassed new audiences due to numerous TV and movie adaptations. The most adapted has been Pride and Prejudice, showcasing the breathtaking Regency romance between a free-spirited and sharp Elizabeth Bennet and a wealthy but arrogant Mr. Darcy.
After many iconic series and movies in the 20th and 21st centuries, Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice is a fresh version of Austin’s most popular novel, as Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden are the latest to undertake the iconic couple in a brand-new trailer. The 42-second teaser spotlights the blistering chemistry between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. It begins with Elizabeth sitting at the top of a roof, gazing at the sunset until she turns her attention to a horse’s neigh.
As the music intensifies, there are quick snippets of the enemies-to-lovers, including a zoomed-in visual of a letter and a book, a dance between them, and the suitor watching a carriage leave. The teaser ends with Mr. Darcy’s arrival on a horse. Neither character utters a word, as the sound of nature and bird chirping sets the stage for their sizzling romance in Netflix’s Pride & Prejudice. Check out the teaser below.
Netflix’s iteration will be a six-part miniseries, following in the footsteps of Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle’s 1995 BBC version. Dolly Alderton, who is the writer and executive producer, expressed a “joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life.” The streamer also notes that it will be “a faithful, classic adaptation” of the Austen story, with Euros Lyn set to direct.
Executive producers include Laura Lankester, Will Johnston, and Louise Mutter for Lookout Point, which is part of the BBC. Corrin will also executive produce alongside her starring role, while Lisa Osborne is a producer.
Playing a part of the Bennet family includes Oscar-winning Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Freya Mavor, Rhea Norwood, Hopey Parish, and Hollie Avery. The series will mark a reunion between Colman and Corrin, who previously shared scenes in The Crown season 4 as Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, respectively.
The other big players include Jamie Demetriou as Mr. Collins, Daryl McCormack as Mr. Bingley, Louis Partridge as Mr. Wickham, Siena Kelly as Caroline Bingley, and Harry Potter’s Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine de Bourg.
The upcoming Netflix miniseries will attempt to win over audiences familiar with the story and those seeing the story for the first time. Pride and Prejudice has been adapted numerous times, including Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier’s 1940 film. There have also been attempts to reinvent the tale by mixing genres, including the 2016 action-horror Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, starring Lily James.
The most popular versions have been Firth/Ehle’s miniseries and Keira Knightley/Matthew Macfadyen’s 2005 movie, directed by Joe Wright. This has raised a debate regarding which actor has the best depiction of Mr. Darcy. Firth’s has been lauded for showcasing his wit and arrogance, while MacFadyen’s is known for manifesting his vulnerability and social awkwardness.
It’s unclear how Lowden’s Mr. Darcy will stand out from his predecessors, although the teaser seems to hint at a Prince Charming nature. While speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the star jokingly noted that his version will have ginger hair, one of the “last barriers to break down.“
The short teaser also doesn’t reveal how Corrin will portray their Elizabeth. Ehle’s version unveiled the intellectual side that’s faithful to Austen’s novel, while Knightley showcased a modern, romantic, and energetic iteration of the female lead.
While Netflix tackles Pride and Prejudice, it won’t be the first time that the studio has attempted an Austen adaptation. Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis starred opposite each other in Persuasion, based on the 1817 novel, which was also the author’s last completed novel. It was met with polarizing reactions among critics and audiences.
Although Netflix has released a teaser for Pride and Prejudice, it doesn’t reveal too much of the couple’s relationship and how it would differ from past pairs. Nevertheless, it will join the streamer’s rich collection of period romances, which includes Bridgerton and The Empress. Plus, it would only be a matter of time before Netflix drops a full trailer to give audiences a better taste of the new Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice will premiere sometime in the autumn of 2026.
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Netflix
- Directors
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Euros Lyn