James McAvoy, Natalie Portman To Star In 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'?

The deranged cult hit 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' is set to take a bite out of the big screen -- and now, it's getting a star cast to fuel its outbreak.

DigitalSpy is reporting that 'Atonement' star James McAvoy is being considered for a lead role in the big screen version of the hit 2009 novel that satirizes and updates Jane Austen's 19th century classic, 'Pride and Prejudice.' Written by Seth Grahame-Smith, the book leaves 85% of Austen's original novel in place, adding in an hilarious zombie and ninja outbreak to the storyline. In fact, it has inspired an entire genre of classic/horror mashups.

"Subconsciously, Austen was writing a horror novel and didn't know it," Grahame-Smith told The Los Angeles Times in 2009. "People taking these strolls, riding their carriages to and fro. . . . There are so many opportunities there -- for zombie attacks."

The book's film rights were bought last year by Natalie Portman's production company, and word was that she was even considering starring as Elizabeth Bennett, the zombie-slaying lady in the text. Now, Digital Spy says that another Golden Globe nominated actress, Anne Hathaway, is being thought of as a potential Elizabeth.

Comments

[ErinLA87]

06:58 PM on 12/30/2010

Just to let everyone know, this is NOT true, they haven't even begun casting for this movie yet! Take a look at what James' publicist said just TODAY http://bit.ly/eTqsYq

[VintageMary]

04:40 PM on 12/28/2010

This needs to happen, and it needs to be followed by 'Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter'.

[afavor2]

10:17 PM on 12/21/2010

Didn't Portman pull out of this? I think she is the producer now, also if Colin Firth isn't Mr Darcey count me out.

People do love these zombie movies I just don't get it.

[ianmcc]

07:01 PM on 12/18/2010

OMG, YES, Simon Pegg should star in this movie!!!

[BuckyJamesDio]

10:03 PM on 12/18/2010

Agreed, and not just because he has prior zombie experience. Pegg can awesome up anything, especially an English period piece. With zombies.

[Kambriel2]

12:28 PM on 12/19/2010

Simon could be Mr. Bingley and Nick Frost could play Mr. Bennet's clergyman cousin who marries dear Charolotte!

[ianmcc]

07:00 PM on 12/18/2010

It sounds like a historical (or is that horrifically hysterical) prequel to 'Shaun of the Dead', can't wait for this movie to come out in the future!

True Blood & Twilight and the entire vampire genre has been done to undeath and are now passe, The Walking Dead & zombies are the cool monsters now!

[hellotiki]

12:10 PM on 12/18/2010

I hope that they can score more of the "upper crust" British actors. Firth, Hopkins, Mirren, Blanchette. It could be loads of fun. Don't forget John Cleese and Eric Idol.

[Renee Koppelman]

10:30 PM on 12/17/2010

Some things just don't need to be made in movies!!! P&P&Zombies being one of them...safe the money for better movies out there!!!

[mssreader]

03:28 PM on 12/19/2010

Renee, I'm with you on this one. This is a sacrilege as far as I am concerned being a Jane Austen purist. As much as I adore James McAvoy, this is one of his films I'd avoid.

[tyrant510]

10:04 PM on 12/17/2010

such a great concept. i hope they can get it to work as a film.

[Alaskangel]

05:41 PM on 12/17/2010

I loved the book, My 12 and 14 year old daughters aslo loved the book. Not sure about a movie though. Could be great if done right.

[Alaskangel]

05:44 PM on 12/17/2010

a whole new genre. Boring classics mashed with exciting horror plot lines.

[jcvd]

11:38 AM on 12/19/2010

The genre already fully exists in books. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, etc. Like anythings else, they've taken something that was clever and cool ONCE and have spoiled it. The joke really only works once, and even then, I didn't think the idea was good enough to sustain the original book. I stopped laughing about 2/3 the way through, though I laughed a lot at the beginning.

[FTracy3]

05:09 PM on 12/17/2010

this sounds more like a skit than a full movie; more power to them if they make it work.

[jcvd]

11:33 AM on 12/19/2010

I agree. I read the book and thought it was clever, but it is kind of a one-note joke. I only finished it because I feel the need to finish books once I begin them.

[MikeDu]

01:58 PM on 12/17/2010

This could be either a very good film or a very bad film, or ideally both at the same time.  :)

[fredgladys]

03:01 PM on 12/17/2010

And a whole new world opening up. War and Peace, the Sherlock Holmes series, Agatha Christie and the list goes on. They could all be, modified, at least until the next craze comes along.

[BlackJAC]

03:05 PM on 12/17/2010

There actually is a book series called The Continuing Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, plus there's the BBC's 21st-century update of the guy.

[odhinn42]

03:03 PM on 12/17/2010

I'm hoping for both. Either of the leading ladies they mention in the article could handle both. So could McAvoy. Camp, gore, romance, and period clothes? Can you get a better movie to eat popcorn to with your significant other?

[Mary Karius]

01:45 PM on 12/17/2010

GREAT BOOK!!! can't wait to see the movie!

[Catherine in Tulsa]

12:25 PM on 12/17/2010

LOVE James McAvoy, and will see anything he's in. Except for that stupid one with Angelina.

[LovingHope]

03:59 PM on 12/17/2010

I have to agree. I love him too, but I thought that movie was too violent. He is so cute.

[Catherine in Tulsa]

05:13 PM on 12/17/2010

just stupid, IMO. and he's too good of an actor to be in that trash. I heard they are doing a second one. Totally not interested.

[btdenver]

12:16 PM on 12/17/2010

Wow, a zombie version of Jane Austen...

Wait, wasn't that what all those Merchant/Ivory films were?

[BlackJAC]

01:44 PM on 12/17/2010

I often joked that the worst kind of prison would be the world of a Jane Austen novel.

[kimbutgar]

12:08 PM on 12/17/2010

Loved the book and the prequel one. Can't wait for this movie.