Casting News: Emma Stone offered lead role for 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' film

Update 6/24/11: According to Deadline: Emma Stone Not Doing 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'
 
Variety reports that Emma Stone (Easy A, Zombieland, The House Bunny) has been offered the lead role: Elizabeth Bennet in the new film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to be directed by Craig Gillespie (Fright Night, Lars and the Real Girl), which Lionsgate is releasing. The film is based on the tongue-in-cheek mash-up book by Seth Grahame-Smith, which is a re-telling of Jane Austen‘s “Pride and Prejudice” with a twist of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fighting against zombies. So far, Stone's only been offered the part and is not confirmed to star in this film yet. We'll find out soon enough, if she is or not.



For now, here's the article from Variety: Emma Stone offered lead in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'

Recent Academy Award winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan), who was previously cast for the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet is still on board to produce this film through her production company, Handsomecharlie Films.

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PPZ film Update: David Gillespie is now officially set to helm 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'

Interesting turn of events, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film who had its second director Mike White recently left the project, is once again, alive and back from the dead with a new director on board!

After left the project (even though she's she's still producing this film through her handsomecharlie productions with Lionsgate distributing it) along with two directors (David O'Russell and Mike White, who was previously announced to direct this this film as I've posted here last November 2010),  Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillespie is now officially set to Direct 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies' (via Deadline)...

"We are so excited to have Craig Gillespie on board this film," said Alli Shearmur, Lionsgate president of Motion Picture Production. "His sensibility spans from genre-bending horror to elegant character-driven comedy, which is perfect for this movie."   

Also, Gillespie recently was interviewed by EW to talk about the upcoming film. Here's part of his interview... 

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' director chews over Jane Austen mash-up -- EXCLUSIVE

Jane Austen purists, eat your heart out. It’s going to happen to some of your favorite characters anyway.

Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillespie finalized his deal yesterday to helm the big-screen version of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling fusion of Austen’s 19th century comedy of manners and romance with a nightmarish horde of flesh-eating undead. Gillespie recently wrapped a remake of the ’80s cult classic Fright Night, with Colin Farrell as the unfriendly neighborhood vampire, and plans to begin shooting P+P+Z at the end of summer.

Gillespie spoke exclusively to EW about how he plans to make zombies seem natural in the early-1800′s British countryside, and whether Austen film alums and Keira Knightley could make cameos…



What’s the state of the project? David O. Russell was attached to direct. Then he dropped out in a budget dispute, and Mike White took over directing duties, but then left to focus on an HBO series. Do you start from scratch?
No, we have a really great script that we’re just going to do a polish on and then get going, really…. David Russell wrote the script off the book, and it has such a great mix of humor and horror. I just love being able to juggle those two aspects. The humor is inherent in the Pride and Prejudice side, but taking that and accenting it with zombies is just a brilliant and fun idea. And there are such strong female characters, which is nice to have. It’s a great clash.
What sold you on this mash-up between pre-Victorian British literature and flesh-eating horror?
I was aware the project was around, but at the time it wasn’t available. Then it became available. I was still finishing up Fright Night, but in the meantime I called my agent and said, “I want to see that script.” He said, “I’m not sure we’d be able to figure out the timing.” But I read the first 30 pages and said, “I want to do this.” It’s just such a great combination between classic literature — Jane Austen, and meshing it with zombies. The challenge of meshing those two genres is really exciting to me.
Who do you have in mind for the roles of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy?
Casting is trying to find the people who can walk that line. It’s too early now. [Laughs] Nice try though.
Any chance you can recruit actors who have appeared in previous versions of Pride and Prejudice to, say, do a couple cameos as flesh-eaters? Like, could we see a zombie Colin Firth or a zombie Keira Knightley?
I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re definitely giving me food for thought.

Read full EW interview here! 

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PPZ Update: Mike White to helm 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'

Looks like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film is still alive after all, though Jane Austen

Mike White Sinks Teeth Into 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'

Lionsgate has closed a deal with Mike White to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel that spices up Jane Austen's time-tested 1813 literary classic with a smattering of flesh-eating walking corpses. David O. Russell stepped out but left behind a script that had filmmakers salivating for the job. White got the formal offer on November 5. Lionsgate can now get busy on casting Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, and the other characters in the Austen tale. Russell originally had Natalie Portman interested in playing the female lead, but she left the project some time ago as actress, though she is producing through her handsomecharlie banner with Annette Savich, and Darko Entertainment. When she left, Russell wanted Scarlett Johansson and Bradley Cooper. Unclear if they'll stay, particularly as Johansson was in contention for several other high profile films that were casting up before landing the female lead opposite Matt Damon in the Cameron Crowe-directed We Bought A Zoo.

White, who scripted School of Rock, made his feature directing debut on Year of the Dog. He is repped by UTA.

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Natalie Portman no longer starring in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' film

According to EW.com, (who just turned down the lead role in Alfonso Cuarón's "Gravity" also) dropped out of the PPZ film she was attached to star (and produced) as Elizabeth Bennet (hmm, who will play her now? let the rumors begin, lol...) due to scheduling conflicts, but she will still produced the film. (natalie portman - photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Europe)

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' loses Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has dropped out of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the film based on the best-selling Jane Austen-meets-the-undead novel. As New York Magazine‘s Vulture blog hinted, scheduling conflicts were a cause of her departure, though her production company will remain involved in the project.

Also, The Playlist has reported that...

This isn't the first roadblock to hit the film as earlier this week, long-attached director David O. Russell left the film after Portman couldn't agree to a start date with the director. He instead has moved on to the road-trip comedy "Old St. Louis" which will shoot next spring.

More about → Natalie Portman no longer starring in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' film

Coming Soon: New Jane Austen Movies for 2010/2011

New Jane Austen adapted or inspired of films for 2010 and 2011. From a modern Pride and Prejudice to a Bollywood take on Emma (Aisha) to a Latina spin of Sense and Sensibility (From Prada to Nada). Plus a film version of ITV's 2008 Lost In Austen (still in development, according to IMDB) to a zombie parody of Pride and Prejudice (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). Looks like there's something for everyone from an often Jane-Austen-novel-adapted-or-inspired-of-films to check out or look forward to soon (starting in August).

Here's a list of some JA related films currently filming, in post-production, and or still in-development for a possible release of 2010 and 2011. 

Pride and Prejudice (2010)

(Photo by Alex Forsett | Courtesy of Bonnie Mae of PaperCut Productions LLC)

Pride and Prejudice (2010) is a new, modern adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice and an independent feature film set in Colorado, USA with an all cast based from Colorado as well.

Synopsis
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife and with that knowledge a mother of five single girls will do anything in her power to get that man to marry one of them. Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth (Maia Petee) and her oldest sister Jane Bennet (Christina LaFon) through trial and error of first impressions, timeless proposals, mistaken opinions and true love. When Jane meets the new eligible bachelor Mr. Bingley (Mark Mook), she falls head over heels until he suddenly leaves town unexpectedly with his friend Mr. Darcy (). While Elizabeth consults her sister she finds herself intertwined in the reasons behind Mr. Bingley's departure, a new found friend Mr. Wickham (James Hawthorn), prejudices and a possibilities of finding love herself.”

Status
Currently filming

Release Date
December 2010 (subject to change)

Production Company
PaperCut Productions LLC

Writer/Producer/Director
Bonnie Mae

Cast
Maia Petee - Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet
Caleb Grusing - Mr. Darcy
Christina LaFon - Jane Bennet
Mark Mook - Mr. Bingley
Shannon Urban - Lydia Bennet
James Hawthorn - Mr. Wickham
Ashley Douglas - Mary Bennet
Christina Rizzo - Kitty Bennet

Click here for a full cast list and more info of the film!

Aisha - The Movie (2010)

(photo: AishaTheFilm's official website)

Updated 6/19/10

Aisha, is a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel, Emma.

Watch the first official trailer for Aisha below!

[source: afghamza2]

Synopsis
The film transports Jane Austen’s story to present-day Delhi.  Directed by Rajshree Ojha with the screenplay by Devika Bhagat. It stars Sonam Kapoor as Aisha, the main protagonist and Abhay Deol as Arjun Burman, and is expected to be in a theatrical release August 6th, 2010 in India.

Status
Post-Production

Release Date
August 6, 2010 (India)

Cast
Sonam Kapoor - Aisha Kapoor/Emma
Ira Dubey- Pinky Bose
Abhay Deol - Arjun Burman/George Knightley
Arunoday Singh - Dhruv Singh/ Frank Churchill
Cyrus Sahukar - Randhir/Philip Elton
Amrita Puri - Shefali Takur/Harriet Smith
Lisa Haydon - Aarti Menon/Jane Fairfax

Producers
Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire, 24)
Rhea Kapoor

Follow @AishaTheFilm on Twitter, Join Aisha's Facebook Group Like the official Aisha - The Film on Facebook, or visit the official Aisha-The Film website and Sonan-Kapoor.net for the latest news and updates on this film.

From Prada to Nada (2011)

Synopsis
A Latina spin on Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility," where two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father's sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.

Status
Filming

Release Date
2011

Cast
Camilla Belle
Alexa Vega
Wilmer Valderrama
Adriana Barraza
Kuno Becker

More info of the film below...
From Austen Blog:
Update on “From Prada to Nada”

Plus a news update below...

[source: clevverTV]

Still in-development P&P/JA related films for 2011


Lost In Austen (2011)
No info about this film at this time...
Updated 6/13/10
Found an old info from PeriodMovies.com's forum:

Columbia gets 'Lost In Austen'
Mendes to produce film adaptation of TV series
By TATIANA SIEGEL

Columbia Pictures is bringing a time-traveling Jane Austen drama to the big screen, with Sam Mendes aboard as producer.

Based on the Brit miniseries "Lost in Austen," film will center on Amanda, an ardent Jane Austen fan, lives in present day New York with her boyfriend, until she finds she's swapped places with Austen's fictional creation Elizabeth Bennett.

The show's original writer, Guy Andrews, is penning the screenplay.

The original four-part series starred Jemima Rooper and Gemma Arterton and aired on ITV in the U.K. in September.

Mammoth Screen, which produced the mini, will develop the movie version with Mendes' Neal Street Prods.

Andrews is exec producing alongside Mammoth Screen's Damien Timmer and Michele Buck and Neal Street's Pippa Harris.

Mendes, who most recently produced and directed "Revolutionary Road," is working with the studio on the apocalyptic comicbook adaptation "Preacher," which he is attached to helm.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2011)

to star as Elizabeth Bennet and is a producer of PPZ.


Synopsis
Jane Austen's classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England is faced with a new challenge -- an army of undead zombies.

More about → Coming Soon: New Jane Austen Movies for 2010/2011