It is “a truth universally acknowledged” that every generation must have its own Pride and Prejudice adaptation. We had Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle play the leads in 1995, Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen spice things up in 2005, and now zeitgeisty writer Dolly Alderton is adapting a new version for 2026 promising “drama and depth, as well as comedy and charm.”
The Crown’s Emma Corrin plays Elizabeth Bennet and Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden will be her brooding beau, Mr. Darcy. Lending heft to the project is national treasure Olivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet, while in the director’s chair is Heartstopper’s Euros Lyn. Yup, it’s an adaptation to get properly excited about. But who was behind the casting, and how did they find their Darcy, Bingley, and Bennets? Let’s take a look.
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Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice is over 200 years old, but its themes of money, marriage, and morals (or the lack thereof) still seems to win over modern audiences. The regency romance is the story of bookish, sparky Elizabeth Bennet and the taciturn Mr. Darcy, who must both put aside pride and, yes, prejudice, to find love. Alderton, who previously adapted her own memoir, Everything I Know About Love, into a TV show, has called Austen’s book “the blueprint for romantic comedy” and a “gift to adapt.”
Set for release in the autumn of 2026, the six-part adaptation for Netflix boasts a great cast. Joining Corrin, Lowden, and Colman are Rufus Sewell as Mr. Bennet, Daryl McCormack as Mr. Bingley, Louis Partridge as Mr. Wickham, Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine, and Jamie Demetriou as Mr. Collins.
Not a bad call sheet for breathing fresh life into long-loved characters. Plus, there’s room for new talent, as recent graduates Hollie Avery and Hopey Parish make their screen debuts as the two very different Bennet sisters, Kitty and Mary.
The casting process was led by British casting director Olivia Scott-Webb, who also cast hits such as The Queen’s Gambit, Dept. Q, and Fleabag. Basically you want to be on her radar. She has an office email (office@oliviascottwebb.com) and, according to Backstage, submissions are taken by email only. She’s a very busy, top-tier casting director, so be polite if you are approaching her directly and attach your acting CV and showreel to the email.
Corrin told Backstage her No. 1 tip for auditioning is research. “I need to feel like I have a lot of foundation beneath the person I’m playing,” she says. “If I have the whole script, I’ll read the whole script. Then, if it’s based on a book, I’ll read the whole book.”
But she also stressed the importance of departing from your interpretation and being flexible, if the audition calls for that. “I’ve always loved letting go of what I’m doing and being like, ‘OK, cool. Let’s try your thing.’ Remember to play with the possibilities.”
Partridge has some final words of wisdom. “What I’ve taken from acting is that you’ll fail a lot more times than you’ll succeed and, if you really enjoy it, you’ll stick with it until something comes that makes the failing worth it,” he told Cool America magazine.
Alderton’s Pride and Prejudice may have already been cast, but the UK is known for its period dramas. If you fancy yourself in a bonnet or breeches, keep your eyes peeled for similar projects. And be sure to check out the below guides before applying.