David Slade and Scarlett Johansson for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
This entry was posted 1 year, 217 days ago
It’s hard to see why anybody wouldn’t want to make a film of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a reworking of Jane Austen’s novel in which Seth Grahame-Smith livens up procedings by adding a plague of flesh-eating undead to the mix; the blurb alone is so fantastic that the book was sure to be a hit. Yet recent days have seen the upcoming screen adaptation lose not only director David O. Russell, but also star Natalie Portman. Could this already be the end for a possible horror-comedy classic?
Hopefully not, if rumours from Deadline are anything to go by. With the zombtastic script apparently having been made all the better by Russell’s tweaking, several directors are said to be interested in the job, including Mike Newell and Neil Marshall. But David Slade is tipped as the lead contender, though hopefully the visual result would be more 30 Days of Night than The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Couple this with reports that, before leaving the film, Russell had lined up Scarlett Johansson to fill Portman’s role and gotten Bradley Cooper interested in playing Mr. Darcy and this project could still be good’un. Of course, a new director may want to pick their own leads, but Johnasson certainly has the right buxom looks for a period lady-in-distress and who wouldn’t want to see her fighting off the living dead in a posh frock? Well, die hard fans of the original Austen novel probably, but what do they know? This has zombies, it’s a whole different kettle of awesome.
When I first read the phrase “Bradley Cooper interested in playing Mr. Darcy ” I literally spat some camomile tea onto my keyboard (which really proves counter-productive to its alleged calming effects!). Bradley Cooper – he of Jennifer Aniston rumours, fake tan and abs galore – one of the literary world’s greatest romantic heroes? No! But then I pictured him pulling that sardonic charm of his in a zombiefied context, and I was forced to chuckle.
Can’t say I rate Johansson’s comic timing too highly, having never actually witnessed it, but…aye, I suppose she’ll do :p
Yeah, to be fair I think Cooper is probably actually a better piece of casting if anything – I can just imagine him all trussed up in 19th Century garb, kicing some zombie ass with a musket.
As for Johansson – I’ll be honest, I had thought more about how her general appearance is quite fitting for period dramas than I had about her skills as a comedy actress, but heck, I’m willing to give her a shot.
Loved this book. A classic turned into absolute trash, what’s not to love! Hope the film happens!
who needs comedy when you have BREASTS?
Glad to hear you’re on board, Tash
I hate Scarlett Johansson so, SO much – still, at least this will keep her from spoiling anything worthwhile for a few months. Pop-eyed bitch.