Streamer looks to adapt classic Jane Austen novel with Dolly Alderton

Pride and Prejudice

BBC1’s 1995 adaptation starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth

Netflix is working up an adaptation of the classic Jane Austen tale Pride and Prejudice with Everything I Know About Love writer Dolly Alderton. 

The creative is understood to have written scripts for the project, which is still in development with the streaming giant and not as-yet close to a greenlight. 

dolly

Dolly Alderton

A Netflix adaptation of the seminal 19th century novel will add to the pantheon of notable screen renderings of Austen’s works including the hit 1995 BBC version, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and the 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. 

The novel focuses the development of protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, exploring the themes of love and class in Georgian Britain. Central to the story is the simmering relationship between Bennet and the wealthy gentleman Mr Darcy. 

Author and screenwriter Alderton is noted for her National Book Award-winning autobiography Everything I Know About Love, which she successfully adapted into a scripted series for BBC1 and Peacock. 

The revelation of the project comes at a hot period for Austen. Earlier this week, Bad Wolf was commissioned by the BBC to adapt Janice Hadlow’s novel The Other Bennet Sister, exploring the story of Elizabeth’s quieter, younger sibling Mary. 

Additionally, Federation Studios is launching PBS Masterpiece drama Miss Austen at Mipcom, which was acquired by the BBC late last year. The four-part series is adapted from Gill Hornby’s best-selling novel and produced by Bonnie Productions for Masterpiece in the US. 

The Daily Mail first reported news of the adaptation which Netflix is not commenting on.