The makers of Poldark and Victoria are working on a TV adaption of Pride and Prejudice, which could air 25 years after Colin Firth set hearts racing with his depiction of Mr Darcy on the BBC.
Mammoth Screen has said it is working on a version of the story that will focus on the “darker tones” of Jane Austen’s novel.
The production firm has commissioned playwright Nina Raine to adapt the book for a new ITV series although the cast has yet to be confirmed.
Damien Timmer, the managing director of Mammoth, told Radio Times: “In this age of the box set – with audiences loving to binge on complex, serialised dramas – it feels absolutely right to reassess the great classics. Every generation needs its own adaptation of this perfect novel.
“Nina Raine is one of the most gifted writers working today and her wit and emotional intelligence make her the perfect match for Jane Austen. She’s a devoted fan of the book, but she’s never seen any previous adaptations – so pleasingly the novel only exists in her imagination.”
Austen’s book about the Bennet sisters’ search for love has already been adapted five times for UK television, all for the BBC. A 2005 film starred Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in the leading roles.
The 1995 BBC adaption is arguably the most famous and critically acclaimed. It was adapted by Andrew Davies, who also brought House of Cards to the BBC, and starred Firth and Jennifer Ehle. A scene featuring Firth emerging from a lake in a wet shirt is often described as one of the most memorable moments in British television history and helped propel the actor to stardom.
Raine said she wanted her adaption to do justice to Austen’s “dark intelligence” and that Pride and Prejudice was “actually a very adult book, much less bonnet-y than people assume”.
Pride and Prejudice will be Raine’s first TV adaption. She wrote Consent, a play which opened at the National Theatre in London earlier this year and has attracted strong reviews.
The date the series will be broadcast is yet to be confirmed, but it is understood that it could air in 2020, which would be 25 years after the BBC series starring Firth.
Mammoth produces the BBC drama series Poldark and ITV’s Victoria, which stars Jenna Coleman.
