Exclusive Interview
‘Pride and Prejudice’ Director Reacts to Netflix Adaptation With Emma Corrin & Jack Lowden
Joe Wright made one of the definitive Jane Austen adaptations with his 2005 film Pride and Prejudice. The Oscar-nominated film, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, celebrates its 20th anniversary on November 11 of this year, and Austen’s 250th birthday falls on December 16. Wright paid a visit to the TV Insider and Swooon studio in Manhattan to discuss his new Mubi limited series, Mussolini: Son of the Century, and we asked for his thoughts about the upcoming Netflix Pride and Prejudice starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden.
Pride and Prejudice is coming to Netflix as an all-new six-part limited series. The series will be a faithful, classic adaptation of the novel, according to the streamer, written by Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love) and directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper). The series is still in production, so there’s no release date just yet.
Corrin and Lowden’s castings were announced in April. When asked if he liked the casting choices for this iconic literary couple, Wright cheerfully said, “I do!”
He continued, “I think Jack’s great, and I think Emma’s great. I’d be really interested to see what they do with it. And there are so many ways to go with that material, so it’s exciting to see where they take it.”
The filmmaker shared his take on what every Pride and Prejudice adaptation needs. His advice was simple: “Conflict and chemistry,” Wright said.
Keira Knightley, director Joe Wright on set on ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (2005) (Focus Features / Everett Collection)
“Chemistry comes from conflict in a way,” he added. “It’s the two poles sort of batting against each other and then finding a way to unify.” That’s Lizzie and Darcy in a nutshell, even Jane and Mr. Bingley.
Hollywood loves an Austen adaptation, but Wright doesn’t see himself making another one. His Pride and Prejudice was his feature film directorial debut (he had directed plenty of TV before then), but there’s no other Austen novel he wants to tackle as of now.
“I don’t think I could do another Austen adaptation, really. I feel like the good ones have all been done, but I like the happy endings,” he shared pensively. “I’m not sure which one I’d do.”
He is, however, excited to see Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice and more Austen film adaptations.
“I thought Autumn de Wilde’s EMMA. was great. I loved that,” he shared. “I’m really excited to see the new Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Georgia Oakley’s doing Sense and Sensibility now. So I think, I don’t know, we’re OK for now.” Daisy Edgar-Jones leads the new Sense and Sensibility, coming to theaters in 2026.
Pride and Prejudice, Limited Series, TBA, Netflix
