When it was first announced, it seemed that a film version of Seth Grahame Smith’s Price and Prejudice and Zombies was going to come together very quickly. Natalie Portman was attached to the lead role, then David O’Russell signed on as director, and it appeared it wouldn’t be too long before camera were rolling.
However Portman then got cold feet, followed soon after by O’Russell. A few weeks later is was announced Mike White, best known as the screenwriter of the likes of School Of Rock but who helmed Year Of The Dog, was hire to direct. At the time many thought it was an odd fit, but Lionsgate seemed happy with White and the casting rumour mill went back into overdrive.
Now though, it’s a couple months later, no cast members have been announced and Deadline reports White has now also droped out, pretty much putting things back to square one. The official reason, according to White, is because “I loved the project and looked forward to working with Lionsgate. Unfortunately, the timing could not be worked out. I wish them the best with the movie.”
Lionsgate is still committed and sees the film as a priority, so it’s putting the project back out to potential directors. Previously Mike Newell (Prince Of Persia), Jonathan Demme, Matt Reese (Cloverfield) and the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, were said to be interested, but it’s not known if any of them might be prepared to get on board at this stage.
In case you don’t know, the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book take about 80% Jane Austen’s original text, but then adds in some blood-thirsty zombies. So it’s basically Elizabeth Bennet looking for love and independence, set against the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns people into the killer undead. However she’s rather distracted from trying to kill these fiends (using her impressive martial arts skills) by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy.