Filed under: Movie News

Elizabeth Bennet and Her Sisters about to Become Zombie Slayers

Classic Jane Austen novel gets a much different adaptation

Mr Darcy and his ninjas

Personally I think zombie movies have just about run their course. There is nothing left to do with the genre seeing how any premise you devise always resorts to the fact your main villains are slow moving groaners. Sure, the idea of "fast zombies" has been tried, but the idea that makes things any better is simply ridiculous in my mind. However, I wonder if the new novel by Los Angeles-based TV comedy writer Seth Grahame-Smith titled "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" will add anything to the genre that has been lacking for all these years.

The parody of Jane Austen's novel is due to be published in April and Hollywood studios are apparently already bidding to turn the new book into a blockbuster movie accoding to the Herald Sun (via Film Drunk) as it tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters as they become zombie slayers and are taught how to fight like Japanese ninjas by Mr Darcy. More than anything, the Japanese ninjas aspect is what makes this interesting to me.

Grahame-Smith gives some choice quotes to the Herald Sun, here's how it reads:

"It quickly became obvious that Jane (Austen) had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel," The Sunday Times quoted Grahame-Smith as saying.

"Why else in the original should a regiment arrive on Lizzie Bennet's doorstep when they should have been off fighting Napoleon?

"It was to protect the family from an invasion of brain-eaters, obviously."

Grahame-Smith said about 85 per cent of his novel is Austen's original text.

"I hated her when I was forced to read Austen in school, but when I started re-reading I realised she was a brutal, but very funny, satirist," he said.

"I can only aspire to be as mean-spirited as she could be."

I must admit, I am curious to see how this one would turn out. Perhaps it could be Keira Knightley's next period piece as she could bring a new twist to the character she played in her Oscar nominated role as Bennet in 2005.

Related post categories: Movie News :

Click Here to add an
Avatar to Your Account
Post #1
Gravatar

This sounds unassailably cool. It'd be pretty sweet if they could get the cast from the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice to be in this.

- Ross
( February 9th, 2009 | 2:39 pm )
Reply to this comment
Post #2
Gravatar

This is the editor of the book talking about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/jane_austens_zombie_viral_bestseller_108083.asp?c=rss

- melissa
( February 9th, 2009 | 5:33 pm )
Reply to this comment
Post #3
Gravatar

Ugh this is just ruining my favorite book.

- Joe Gunn
( February 10th, 2009 | 11:49 am )
Reply to this comment
Post #4
Gravatar

Aargh..why didn't I think of this? In high school? It seems like such an obvious idea and fits so naturally and perfectly, yet it hasn't occured to anybody before this. Though Mr. Darcy training the girls to fight like Japanese ninjas sounds like overkill. It may still be great, who knows?

On a side note though, I wasn't aware that Austen works were public domain.

- Vik
( February 11th, 2009 | 8:47 am )
Reply to this comment
Post #5
Gravatar

WTeffingF? The premise sounds really, really funny, but the description is very vague. It won't replace the real thing, though. Never ever.

- JM
( February 11th, 2009 | 10:55 am )
Reply to this comment
~ PLEASE NOTE ~
If, in any way, your comment is an attack on the author of this post or a previous commenter, your comment will be deleted without question.
Leave Your Feedback
(required)
(will not be shown) (required)
DON'T WANT YOUR COMMENT DELETED?
Click to Read Our Commenting Rules & Guidelines
Follow Us On Twitter!
RSS Email
Latest Posts
Latest Video
The Last Airbender ~ Super Bowl TV Spot
New Pictures
Friend RopeofSilicon on Netflix!