Elton John’s Rocket Pictures will produce a film called Pride and Predator. "It felt like a fresh and funny way to blow apart the done-to-deathJane Austen genre by literally dropping this alien into the middle of acostume drama, where he stalks and slashes to horrific effect," his Rocket partner David Furnish tells Variety.
I agree with the "fresh and funny" part. It sounds very Shaun of the Dead, which I like. (And I momentarily forgot about the upcoming novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.) It’s the "done-to-death Jane Austen genre" that I have a problem with. There was a time when I would’ve agreed with Furnish — like, when I first saw the trailer for 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, laughed to myself, and thought, Really? But then I saw the film, which went on to earn four Oscar nominations (including a Best Actress nod for Keira Knightley) and loved it. (I credit Donald Sutherland as much as Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen — wasn’t he just lovely as Mr. Bennet?) Now I know that if another Austen adapation is done well, I will watch it in theaters. And again when it plays on Oxygen. Who’s with me?
More on Jane Austen and asking when enough is enough:
‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ is SO getting added to my Amazon wishlist
Jane Austen: The Fanvid Madness
14 Movie Franchises We Think Should Stop
Comments (1-19) of 19 Add your comment
Austen rules! Even some of the crappiest adaptations are all the better for being Austen stories.
I thought someone had already bought the film rights to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Will there be TWO sci-fi/horror movie adaptations of Jane Austen in production at the same time? Because that will just be weird.
Oh for the love of…AVP2 or whatever it was killed the franchise. Let it rest in peace people. Don’t sully Austen’s name with this dreck.
I also scoffed at Pride and Prejudice until I saw it and loved everything about it. Great film!
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I don’t even care if it’s done particularly well, I’ll watch it. Although, I must say that I’ve thought all of the Austen adaptations I’ve seen have been done well.
For the love of all that’s holy–they have to get Colin Firth in this. At least in a cameo. And Kate Winslet. Anyone who made their name in corset dramas. Perhaps in the tradition of “Scream” Colin could be the first one slashed.
Totally thought this was a joke when I saw it mentioned on another site. I’m a huge fan of the 2005 movie version – I guess I’d go see this version just to see how they’ll work in an alien. I wonder if this will effect the movie version of the UK series Lost in Austen that is in the works. First we have too much serious Austen, but now will we have too much campy Austen?
As long as it never comes down to ‘Jane Eyre and the Spiders from Mars’ I think I’m OK with this trend. And I say this as a big Austen fan.
Completely agree with you about Donald Sutherland – lovely, just lovely.
I just watched 2005 “Pride and Prejudice” this past Sunday, and I have to say, I will never get tired of ogling those gorgeous long shots. I know there are purists who will never admit anything is better than the million-hour A & E version, but good God, does that movie have style.
I was on the fence about the latest P&P until I watched the extra features with MacFadyen talking about Darcy being shy instead of arrogant. That changed the entire viewing experience for me. And Sutherland was excellent in it.
I’m one of those purists who only watches the 6 hour BBC version of Pride & Prejudice. I will probably not watch any of this zombie stuff, although I suspect it will be a big hit.
I don’t really see why it’s necessary to make this movie, but if it’s even remotely as hilarious as Shaun of the Dead, I’m there. And I finally watched the 2005 P & P after holding out for 4 years in dedication to the Colin Firth version. It’s ok. I guess. MacFayden did have an interesting take on Darcy which I liked, but I cannot stand Knightley. In anything. Ever.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA sounds brilliant! Personally, I thought that the 2005 P&P was awful compared to the BBC miniseries, but I’m definitely looking forward to this!
I thought that Donald Sutherland was all wrong in the role. He came across more as a sad, tragic figure than one with a sense of humor.
I adore both the P&P versions and will take my Mr. Darcy any way I can get him–even with aliens and zombies and such. Done to death? As IF.
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