This was probably inevitable
Hard on the heels of the announcement of Lost in Austen, we have yet another P&P sort-of adaptation called Jane Austen Handheld (hey wait–our Personal Assistant Enrico over there is a Jane Austen Handheld!).
Its first movie will be “Jane Austen Handheld,” a period spoof to shoot next spring, financed by the Isle of Man’s new production venture NX, with HanWay handling sales. The debut feature of TV comedy helmer Tristram Shapeero (director of cult shows “Green Wing” and “Peep Show”), this re-tells the story of “Pride and Prejudice” through the lens of a fly-on-the-wall doc crew.
Fry himself will play the paterfamilias, Mr. Bennet, with Carrie Fisher as his wife, pop starlet Lily Allen as wayward daughter Lydia and louche comedian Russell Brand as the dastardly Wickham. The traditional lead roles of Lizzie Bennet and Darcy have yet to be cast.
“Re-tells the story of “Pride and Prejudice” through the lens of a fly-on-the-wall doc crew?” This actually might be kind of fun. And we have to admit we love the idea of Stephen Fry as Mr. Bennet!
The BBC also has a short article featuring Lily Allen and Chortle has one featuring Russell Brand.
Thanks to Alert Janeites Lisa, Kirsty, Helen B., and Carmen for sending us links about this.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Am I understanding this correctly? It sounds like it’s going to be like the documentary crew from “The Office” eavesdropping on the lives of the Bennet family. I think I kind of love this idea!
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Lily Allen as Lydia? WOW.
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
This is AWESOME. Steven Fry could quite possibly be the greatest Mr Bennet of all time.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I was thinking about an Office connection as well! I think it could be really amazing!
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Anyone else getting THURSDAY NEXT: FIRST AMONG SEQUELS deja-vu?
October 4th, 2007 at 4:47 am
I think Lily Allen will be utterly perfect as Lydia! I am looking forward to this very much!
October 4th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Ha! I really hope Lilly Allen keeps her accent for this- would be hilarious against Stephen Fry’s refined tones! (And anything with him in it has got to be gold surely?!)
October 4th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Stephen Fry is wonderful and apologies, Mr Brand, if you read this, but you will be quite the most sleazy Mr Wickham to ever grace the screen - a wicked picture of perfection!
October 4th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Absolutely! Stephen Fry is spectacular in anything! And I agree, Lily Allen will be an awesome Lydia…This has the potential to be really good(or possibly a disaster, but I’ll be optimistic)
After I told my Dad about this he and I were talking about how awesome it would be to set adaptations of P&P in all different periods in history…the 60′d in America, ancient Greece…I think that would also be pretty heavily awesome
October 4th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Carrie Fisher, as in Princess Leia Carrie Fisher?! Princess Leia as Mrs. Bennet. This will be interesting. Stephan Fry I think would be a perfect Mr. Bennet. I can’t wait to see who will be cast as Lizzy and Darcy
October 4th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
“Lilly Allen keeps her accent for this- would be hilarious against Stephen Fry’s refined tones!” hm, I’ve always found Allen’s accent to be the RP side of estuary, non? Not at all the voice she sings in.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I’m not quite sure but I think I may actually be excited. Stephen Fry as Bennet is genius!! and Brand as Wickham could be very very interesting…hmm…wonder who they’ll cast as Darcy.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I love the idea of Stephen Fry as Mr. Bennet! He was sooooooo good as Jeeves. I think finally we will have a Mr. Bennet as funny as the one in the book.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Stephen Fry is amazing. I can’t wait!