“Lost in Austen” television series moving forward
We’ve had e-mails from several Alert Janeites who saw this series mentioned in passing in various articles; since we blogged about the series when it was first announced shortly after the Jane Austen Season and no further details have been forthcoming, we’ve been in watch and see mode about it, rather hoping that it might shrivel and die on the vine, but apparently Our Lady of the Fangirls doesn’t love us quite that much.
The first series to be launched under the new deal is the drama Lost In Austen, which Granada International will present to international buyers at MIPTV 2008. Pre-production work has started on the series, which is written by Guy Andrews for ITV1. It is billed as a highly original take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, following a modern woman who finds herself swapping places with Austen’s fictional heroine Elizabeth Bennet. Trapped in her favorite book, Amanda tries desperately to keep the story on course, while falling in love with Mr. Darcy.
We have heard some details about the planned series from a very well-placed source, which unfortunately we are not at liberty to reveal; but from what we have heard, be afraid, Gentle Readers, be very afraid. Of course it’s still very much in pre-production so we may be suffering anticipatory angst in vain, and it will turn out to be the wacky, hilarious modern-girl-meets-Regency romp that The Powers That Be apparently think it is rather than a Mary Sue bad fan fiction trainwreck. We confess the thing that annoyed us the most is that ITV gave MP, NA, and Persuasion only 90 minutes each and this sack of crap is getting several (rumor has it 3-4) 1-hour episodes.
Oh, and the first unwary, lazy journalist to compare it to Life on Mars (which we adored, both series) gets the Cluebat of Janeite Righteousness with extreme prejudice.
In case anyone is wondering, this project has nothing to do with the Emma Campbell Webster roleplaying book Lost in Austen that will be out in a few weeks (which actually will be called Being Elizabeth Bennet in the UK). Another article listed the title of the series as the “working title” so it may change to avoid confusion.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:30 am
I think these stories desperately need to be told. I, personally, spent several weeks trading places with Rev. Farebrother in “Middlemarch.” It’s thankless work, let me tell you, toiling away in a subplot for so long. But even worse was the week I spent trading places with Septimus is “Mrs. Dalloway.” I love Virginia Woolf, but it’s no picnic having her voice in your head 24/7.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Robert;
It could be worse….Being a servant/ “in service” for Sir Walter Elliot.(Makes me wonder if he paid them better than his creditors?)
At least Lady Catherine kept her house in order!
James