I guess it’s a good thing I never deleted the filmed adaptation of Seth Grahame Smith‘s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies from my film database as it has found new life at Lionsgate, this time with Lily Collins attached to star in the lead role and Charlie St. Cloud director Burr Steers attached to direct.
The story is based on Grahame-Smith’s revisionist novel in which Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters become zombie slayers after being taught how to fight like Japanese ninjas by Mr. Darcy. It’s been described as a Victorian-era Zombieland.
Previous talent attached included Craig Gillespie (Fright Night) with Emma Stone attached to star and David O. Russell was once attached to direct Natalie Portman in the lead. Scarlett Johansson and Mia Wasikowska were once sought for the lead with Bradley Cooper eyed for the role of Mr. Darcy.
With the attachment of Steers to direct I can only imagine he’ll turn to his St. Cloud and 17 Again star Zac Efron for the role of Darcy, but I honestly can’t believe they are still moving forward with this considering the negative response to the previous adaptation of Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
As of now the only draft of the screenplay known to be out there is the one originally penned by Russell, which may be a good thing… We’ll see.
Collins last starred in Mirror Mirror and will be seen in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones later this year.
[Variety]
