I wasn’t expecting to write this piece of news today, especially since I remarked in conversation just a few days ago that I considered this project dead, but it appears the adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is finally happening.  And soon, with shooting due to start this coming September.  The film will star Lily James, Sam Riley and Bella Heathcote and will be directed by Burr Steers (who has been onboard since Lily Collins came on and fell off) from a script credited to Steers and David O. Russell (who was at one point attached to direct).  Cross Creek Pictures has acquired the domestic rights.

Hopefully this thing will be good.  I imagine that O. Russell was able to do something worthwhile with the script because the project has been attracting (and losing) a lot of talent for a genre mash-up.  Natalie Portman was at one point going to star (she’s still listed as a producer).  After that Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy were bandied about. Then Emma Stone was offered the role before they went to Blake Lively.  None of it stuck.  On the creative front, Mike White took the reigns briefly before Craig Gillespie became attached (and subsequently left).  Buffy writer Marti Noxon took a crack at the script at one point. You get the idea.  Hit the jump for more on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies finally heading into production.

Per Deadline:

The adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s Pride And Prejudice And Zombies has been seeking big-screen life ever since the smash mash-up novel was published in 2009 — but through a series of director changes, it sometimes looked like it had one foot in the grave. No more. The movie version now is a reality with principal photography slated to start in September and Cross Creek Pictures acquiring domestic rights with a commitment for a wide U.S. release.

At this point I'm just sort of happy they've gotten this thing off the ground, if only from the angle that I like to see perseverance pay off.  And if the movie's good?  Bonus.

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