What the hell happened to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
We're not exactly sure other than the movie has lost three directors (David O. Russell, Mike White and Craig Gillespie), the latter of which couldn't find a suitable actress in Hollywood willing to take on the role of zombie-slaying ingenue Elizabeth Bennett. having read Russell's script, all I can say is, it's a mystery. Author Seth Grahame-Smith took a break from promoting his screenwriting efforts Dark Shadows and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to update Collider about the project, revealing that he is still hopeful PP&Z will get made.
The status of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies right now is to be determined. I think there’s still a will at Lionsgate to do it. What I’m hoping is that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter comes out, does well, and there’s more of an appetite for this kind of thing. But then again, Snow White and the Huntsman should come out and do well and that should renew an appetite for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I’m pretty confident that sooner or later that movie’s gonna see the light of day, frankly it’s just waiting for the right combination of director and star to come together.
Without saying too much, I can attest that Russell had a great script, which likely was only slightly altered by Gillespie-era screenwriter Marti Noxon. Grahame-Smith concurs that the script is good.
Definitely the script is there. David O. Russell wrote a great draft, Marti Noxon revised that draft, so right there you have two great writers from different backgrounds. One is very in tune with the Buffy universe, one with more of an indie sensibility and everything. The script is great; this is not a script issue at all. I think it’s a timing issue. I think that sooner or later the right director and the right star are gonna get their hands on that script and that movie’s gonna go.
Time will tell. Meanwhile, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens on June 22nd, and his latest novel, Unholy Night is published next month.
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