Alert Janeite Erandika wrote to tell us about a new link on the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 2005 official site. It appears to be a community site, with message boards and chatroom, and further appears that one must register to use it.

Alert Janeite Erandika writes to tell us that Sky Showbiz reports that the newly-bewhiskered Colin Firth has very nice things to say about the new Darcy on the block.

“I hear Matthew is fantastic. I knew he would be,” Colin says.

“That role was fantastic to me ten years ago but I think it’s other people, not me, who have found it weird that someone else should play it.

“I played Hamlet once and I’ve seen others play that too. I don’t own the Darcy role and never wanted to.

“I’m very happy to let as brilliant an actor as Matthew take on the mantle,” he concluded.

They are so unwise as to ask for fangirl opinions. Should make for some interesting e-mails.

In other P&P3 news, SERENITY has finally dethroned P&P as the U.K. box-office champ.

The Chicago Tribune likes it, seemingly in spite of itself.

This version of “Pride and Prejudice” is a domestic epic in all its showcase glory. And given the sterling Chicago cast looking thoroughly secure in their solid work, it will be exactly what many people will be hoping to see.

There are few surprises. But the show — which I suspect will become one of the best-selling productions in Northlight’s history — comes with many pleasures. Amster’s direction might not scream innovation, but it surely comes with smarts and a delightful lightness of touch.

We thought this was cute.

She had never read “Pride and Prejudice!” Perhaps, many of you see no cause for alarm. I hold a different opinion. To me, saying that you’ve never read “Pride and Prejudice” is like saying, “Oh, I’ve never breathed air.”

It’s incomprehensible. I assumed, until my rude awakening, that everyone — at least, every female — had read “Pride and Prejudice.” But now I wonder: How many out there have never experienced the joy of reading Jane Austen’s finest novel? If that applies to you — oh how I pity you if it does — let me help.

…because our reaction to this news was basically, “HOLY CRAP!”

Touchstone Fireside, a division of Simon & Schuster, has paid a six-figure sum for the publishing rights to Pamela Aidan’s Jane Austen–inspired trilogy “Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman.”

SIX FIGURES?!?!?

Wow.

Many, many, many congratulations to Pamela Aidan, who worked really hard for this and put her money on the line to get her work out there.

And can we please beg for the removal or at least the rewriting of the goofy voodoo subplot? Thanks much.