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Hollywood Studios Battling Over Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
by Alex Billington
February 9, 2009
Source: Times Online
Hitting bookshelves this May is Seth Grahame-Smith's "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", an "updated" version of the Jane Austen classic that includes new portions featuring violent, flesh-hungry zombie hordes. It's already gaining quite a bit of early buzz, because it's such an awesome concept. The UK's Times Online is saying that "Hollywood studios are bidding to turn a radical reworking of Austen’s most popular book" into a blockbuster movie. As much as I hate period pieces, this is definitely one I can support! No word on exactly which studios are bidding, but I'm sure it's a few of the bigger ones in town.
"Desperate for new ideas, studio chiefs hope 'P&P&Z' will mark the bloody birth of a feral offspring of classic British literature: 'monster-lit'." I'm digging the concept and already want to pick up "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", especially considering I've never really read Austen's original but would prefer to start with the zombie infested version anyway. "It quickly became obvious that Jane [Austen] had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel," said Grahame-Smith, a television comedy writer. "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." Oh yea, I can't wait for this!
The next big question now is: Who? Not who will end up with the rights, but who will adapt, who will direct, and most importantly, who will play Elizabeth Bennet? In the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice, Keira Knightley played Bennet, and wouldn't it be delicious if she came back for this version. I doubt it would happen in a million years, but we can dream, can't we? As for writers and directors, we already have J. Michael Straczynski and Marc Forster doing World War Z, which should result in one hell of an awesome film there, so I hope they find some other talented people. Maybe even Joe Wright can come back?
21 Comments
1
Ugh, You would be excited for this.
Gale on Feb 9, 2009
2
This is the rad-est thing I have ever seen!
Johnny Crow on Feb 9, 2009
3
I certainly hope your excitement is satirical, because no one would watch this crap.
Hyacinth on Feb 9, 2009
4
Hollywood seems to be as mindless as zombies. Maybe they are running out of movies to remake.
avoidz on Feb 10, 2009
5
To me it sounds as far from Pride and Prejudice as Rambo is from My little Pony.
Shige on Feb 10, 2009
6
'When there's no more creativity in Hollywood, the re-makes shall walk the earth'
chrisuk on Feb 10, 2009
7
I was hoping Hollywood would get on top of that book. Everything is better with zombies. Just look at my recent list of classic films that would be even better with zombies: http://blog.spout.com/2009/02/04/10-classic-films-that-would-be-better-with-zombies/
Christopher Campbell on Feb 10, 2009
8
I don't think they'll get anyone with a close enough jaw to play her, but who knows? Personally, I'm waiting on my "Pirates vs Ninjas vs Zombies" movie.
Lopretni on Feb 10, 2009
9
Nah, i'd rather have these ones: - Zombies Gone With the Wind - The Zombie of Oz - Bambi Zombi - Zambo (picking the idea of #5, tkx mate) - Titanic [Zombie Cut Version] But that's just me. With so many possibilities, this PPZ doesn't seem so original at all, does it ?
Fox on Feb 10, 2009
10
Keira Knightley does like to do period pieces. Just tell her it's Pride and Prejudice part 2. She'll be on board, then trick and throw in the zombies...perfect. ha
wm on Feb 10, 2009
11
wm, it wouldn't be that different from starring in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Those dead pirates were very close to being zombies.
Christopher Campbell on Feb 10, 2009
12
aaaah, i came to post exactly what #9 posted, ill add a few the zombie of dorian grey the invisible zombie beauty and the zombie im starting work on all three of these, ill be a millionaire before the years out apparantly.
Allen Sharpe on Feb 10, 2009
13
Bring on the zombies!
Josh M. on Feb 10, 2009
14
check out 'Zombie Honeymoon' for some crazy zombie fun! Also - Dances with Zombies Zombiecop No Country for Old Zombies and my personal fav: 'There will be Zombies'
chris on Feb 10, 2009
15
1. (Gale) really made me laugh out loud to myself. I have to say the comments on this article are extremely witty this time. 3, 8, 9, and 12 are also very cleaver. This really does sound like a terrible idea.
kdr on Feb 10, 2009
17
#12, #14: keep it guys, we need more zombies! - 300 Zombies - The League of Extraordinary Zombies - The Last Samurai Zombie - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Zombie
Fox on Feb 10, 2009
18
good stuff #17! - Zombiefield - Zombie Trek - Zombie Wars: The Undead Strikes Back - Quintin Deadotino's Zombie Proof - The Last Action Zombie - Zombie Recall - Zombieformers - Zombie and Sensibility - 2001: A Zombie Odessey - Die Hard With A Zombie - Iron Zombie - Saving Private Zombie - Zombie Racer - Step Zombie Brothers - Paul Blart: Zombie Mall Cop - Zombie Ship Troopers - The Fast and the Zombie - The Boondock Zombies - Z for Zombie Vendetta - The Boy in the Zombie Pijamas - Zombiedog Millionaire
chris on Feb 10, 2009
19
Everything's better with zombies! If this doesn't turn into a cult classic, they'll have done something wrong.
melissa on Feb 10, 2009
20
I HOPE THEY WONT DO IT!!! hollywood always spoiled everything and make it a lot of sh*t, anyway whos going to see it¿¿¿ please pray that this wont happen ps. this ruined my day, f*ck!!
lalola on Feb 10, 2009
21
@20 Zombies do make everything better, trufax.
Daniel on Feb 10, 2009
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