Want to know what's fun? Recounting the troubled history of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, an adaptation that has seen many directors and even more stars attached to it over the years. It started with David O. Russell, who quickly got too big for something like this, then Mike White and Craig Gillespie had a cup of coffee as director before dropping out. And the list of actresses who circled the role of Elizabeth Bennett is long with Natalie Portman and Emma Stone just the beginning. But last year things seemed to perk up with Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down) coming on to helm, and Lily Collins agreeing to star. Then....nothing. But like the undead the film has risen from the grave once again with a whole new cast and an actual start date.
Deadline reports that a Lily swap has taken place and now it will be Downton Abbey's Lily James starring in the adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's zombie period piece. She'll be take the Elizabeth role, joined by Sam Riley (Maleficent) as Mr. Darcy, Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows) as Elizabeth's sister, and Jack Huston (American Hustle) in talks for an unspecified role which will probably be Mr. Bingley. For an idea of what to expect, just know that Grahame-Smith is the same guy who gave us Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, a mediocre book which was adapted into a terrible movie.And y'know what? It looks like this time something will actually happen because production is to begin next month (!!!), utilizing a script credited to O. Russell and Steers. There is still a lot of talent here with O. Russell's screenplay and Portman producing, but zombie movies don't have the same appeal they did a few years ago, and just mashing up genres may not be enough to change that.
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