Netflix has officially begun production on Pride and Prejudice, a six-part limited series based on Jane Austen’s timeless novel.
The new adaptation, described as a faithful and classic retelling, is written by Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love) and directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper). Filming is now underway in the UK.
The final cast lineup was confirmed today, bringing together a mix of celebrated names and rising talent.
Rufus Sewell Leads as Mr Bennet
Veteran Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat, Scoop) will portray Mr Bennet. He’s joined by Freya Mavor (Industry) as Jane Bennet, with Rhea Norwood (Heartstopper) as Lydia. Newcomers Hollie Avery and Hopey Parish will play Kitty and Mary respectively, marking their screen debuts.
Other confirmed cast includes:
- Daryl McCormack (Knives Out 3, Leo Grande) as Mr Bingley
- Louis Partridge (House of Guinness) as Mr Wickham
- Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats) as Mr Collins
- Siena Kelly (Domino Day) as Caroline Bingley
- Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) as Lady Catherine de Bourg
A Star-Packed Supporting Ensemble
Rounding out the cast are:
- Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Mrs Gardiner
- Sebastian Armesto (Gangs of London) as Mr Gardiner
- Rosie Cavaliero, Saffron Coomber, James Dryden, Justin Edwards, James Northcote, Eloise Webb, and Isabella Sermon in supporting roles.
They join the previously announced Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, and Olivia Colman.
Creative Team
The series is produced by Lisa Osborne and executive produced by Dolly Alderton, Euros Lyn, Emma Corrin, Laura Lankester, Will Johnston, and Louise Mutter for Lookout Point.
Lookout Point, a BBC Studios company, is behind acclaimed projects like Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack, and A Suitable Boy.
What to Expect from This Adaptation
While Pride and Prejudice has seen numerous screen versions, this Netflix series aims to highlight both the humor and emotional complexity of Austen’s characters. Alderton calls the novel “the blueprint for romantic comedy” and promises a version that will resonate with longtime fans and first-time viewers alike.
Netflix’s new version joins a long line of Pride and Prejudice adaptations that have each left their mark on pop culture.
The 1995 BBC miniseries, starring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, is often considered the definitive retelling. Its six-episode format closely mirrors the novel’s pacing, while Firth’s lake-soaked Darcy moment became an enduring symbol of period drama brooding.
The 2005 film, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, cut new ground with its raw, more tactile take on Austen’s world. One scene—the brief carriage-side touch when Darcy helps Elizabeth on board and then reflexively flexes his fingers—became an unofficial love letter to subtle acting. That ad-lib, created by Macfadyen and not in the script, emerged during filming. It’s now celebrated as a powerful expression of unspoken attraction and emotional awakening—so much so that it inspired thousands of memes and still dominates fan discussion two decades later.
This new adaptation stays grounded in Austen’s original structure, preserving the wit, social tension, and romance that have made the novel endure for over two centuries.
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