Craig Gillespie officially off Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I knew it. Back in August, a story hit the web  that the troubled adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had lost yet another director for unknown reasons, this time in Craig Gillespie(Fright Night).  That story was reversed without much explanation a few days later during the whirl of activity surrounding Blake Lively's possible casting, which she, like all the actresses before her, ultimately turned down. Now comes word from Deadline that Gillespie is now officially off the project,but at least we have a reason why this time.

The split is said to be amicable, but something is clearly wrong with for the film to have had this many problems. As has been detailed many times here on the site, the revisionist take on the Jane Austen classic was first under the guidance of David O. Russell. Who then left the film to do other things after a facing budget concerns, putting it briefly in the hands of Mike White(Year of the Dog), who left almost as rapidly as he showed up. Gillespie seemed like the one sure fire bet, and all seemed to be in order. So what gives?

The problem seems to be stemming from the inability to come up with a female lead to star as a butt kicking version of Elizabeth Bennet. The list of actresses who have passed on the role reads like a Hollywood casting agent's dream: Natalie Portman(also a producer), Emma Stone, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, and most recently the aforementioned Lively. Really that's just a few of the names that have been mentioned for the part. It's a meaty role that could put a number of these actresses into a far different genre than they've previously been attached, so maybe it's a matter of money that's holding them back? The budget is reportedly very small(like $25M), and these women come with a high price tag.

I've long since thought this film would never get off the ground, and to me this looks like a final nail in the coffin. Maybe give it a rest for a couple years, see how Grahame-Smith's other film, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, pans out and maybe then there will be more of a demand.