More than 250 years after Jane Austen’s birth, the enduring influence of this astute 18th-century novelist on popular culture remains evident. Earlier this year, the BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister—not a direct Austen adaptation but based on Janice Hadlow’s book inspired by Pride and Prejudice—gained significant popularity through word-of-mouth. Now, two more Regency-style productions are on the horizon: a new film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility directed by acclaimed indie filmmaker Georgia Oakley, featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones, and a Netflix series adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet.
This raises the question: why do filmmakers continue to revisit these centuries-old works instead of creating something entirely new? The reality is that in today’s film and TV landscape, where financial pressures are high and there’s a general reluctance to take risks on new concepts, a Jane Austen adaptation is seen as a reliable choice. Familiar intellectual property is readily approved by producers. But why do audiences continue to enjoy them? The answer lies in the sheer enjoyment they provide.
While other classics like Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights often lead to more serious adaptations, Austen’s work is seen as set in a pastel-hued, pre-Victorian idyll. Her heroines did not face the hardships of working as governesses or wandering the Yorkshire moors. Instead, they lived (or married into) grand homes, relaxed in opulent parlors, attended social dances, and focused mainly on matrimonial prospects. Unlike the darker, more brooding novels of the mid-19th century, which reflect the drudgery of daily life, Austen’s works offer a lighter, more humorous, and satirical escape from reality, delightfully poking fun at societal expectations.
The most successful Austen adaptations fully embrace this dreamy escapism. Joe Wright’s 2005 Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley captures this perfectly, as does the 1995 BBC version, which takes some creative liberties with the story—I’m especially thankful for Colin Firth’s memorable lake scene. Similarly, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet’s 1995 Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee, and the 1996 Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow and directed by Douglas McGrath, are visual and emotional triumphs, showcasing splendid sets and costumes, despite some old-fashioned wardrobe choices in the ’90s versions.
More recent Austen adaptations, however, have taken a different approach. Whit Stillman’s 2016 Love & Friendship, based on Lady Susan and starring Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny, offers a witty and stylish experience. Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy is visually tailored for the Instagram era, while Carrie Cracknell’s 2022 Persuasion features Dakota Johnson delivering lines with Fleabag-style wit, wearing outfits reminiscent of Patti Smith and Debbie Harry. These more modern renditions demonstrate that while Austen adaptations can evolve with the times, their core appeal remains unchanged.
The two forthcoming additions to the Austen adaptation canon seem to strike a balance between these recent and older interpretations. They are neither as meticulously stylized as the 2010s and 2020s offerings nor as traditional as the ’90s versions. Instead, they promise a sense of naturalism and a tactile connection with their scenic settings. The first teaser for Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice shows Emma Corrin’s Lizzy sitting on a roof at sunset, exploring the countryside, and sharing a dance with Jack Lowden’s Darcy. Similarly, the new Sense and Sensibility trailer features Esmé Creed-Miles’s Marianne Dashwood lounging in a field with unkempt hair and a loosely worn dress.
