Netflix is adapting one of the world’s most beloved novels. The streamer has given the green light to a new limited series version of Pride and Prejudice. 

Can Netflix’s take on Jane Austen’s iconic Regency romance measure up to previous versions? We’ll have to wait and see how the new versions of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy compare to those who’ve come before. In the meantime, here’s what we know about Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice. 

‘Pride and Prejudice’ cast includes Jack Lowden and Emma Corrin 

Keira Knightley, Jennifer Ehle, and Greer Garson are among the actors who have portrayed Austen’s witty heroine Lizzie Bennet. In the new adaptation, The Crown’s Emma Corrin will portray the second of the five Bennet sisters. 

Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen have made viewers swoon thanks to their different interpretations of the rich but reserved Mr. Darcy. Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, The Long Song) will offer his stamp on the character in Netflix’s version. 

Oscar-winner Olivia Colman will play Lizzie’s marriage-minded mother. 

“Playing Elizabeth Bennet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Corrin told Netflix. “To be able to bring this iconic character to life, alongside Olivia and Jack … is truly the greatest honor. I can’t wait for a new generation to fall in love with this story all over again.”

The new adaptation will be faithful to Jane Austen’s novel

While there have been plenty of loose adaptations of Pride and Prejudice over the years (including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bride and Prejudice, and Lost in Austen), Netflix says it’s not going to stray too far from the source material for its version. 

The new series will be a “period-faithful adaptation” with a script penned by National Book Award winner Dolly Alderton. That’s good news for Austen traditionalists, many of whom were disappointed by Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Persuasion, which added modern flourishes that fell flat for many viewers. 

“Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy — it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life … I am so excited to reintroduce these hilarious and complicated characters to those who count Pride and Prejudice as their favorite book, and those who are yet to meet their Lizzie and Mr Darcy,” Alderton said. 

With six episodes, the new Pride and Prejudice should have adequate time to cover most events of the novel. (The 1995 TV version with Ehle and Firth was also six parts.) Euros Lyn will direct, with production set to begin in the UK later this year. 

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