With filming creeping ever closer like an undead onslaught, the cast for Pride And Prejudice And Zombies continues to swell. Douglas Booth, who is well acquainted with cataclysmic scenarios after Noah, has signed on to play Mr. Bingley.
The film, adapted from Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel, whips up a blend of Jane Austen’s classic tale of manners and moods with zombie action. Lily James is set to play heroine Elizabeth Bennett, who must split her time between the romantic attentions and grumpy boorishness of Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) and fighting off legions of the “sorry stricken,” AKA the undead. Bella Heathcote, meanwhile, will be one of the Bennett sisters. And Jack Huston’s Mr. Wickham will apparently be in favour of training zombies to fight in wars, though we can see how that could go very wrong for all involved.
Bingley is the rich, endlessly happy friend to Darcy, and is smitten by Elizanbeth’s sister, Jane (who may well be played by Heathcote.) Burr Steers is calling the shots from his rewrite of the script and the film should lumber in some time next year. Booth has The Riot Club due on September 19 and is part of the hefty cast for Jupiter Ascending, which will now land here on February 6 next year.