Where’s there’s a will, there’s an unusual Pride and Prejudice adaptation to dig your teeth into.
For casual Austen lovers, you may have clocked onto the fact that BBC’s new spin-off, The Other Bennet Sister, has arrived following the trials and tribulations of the forgotten sibling, Mary Bennet.
But if, like us, you have devoured the first five episodes faster than Jane and Bingley fall in love, then worry not – we have you covered.
Since it came out in 1813, this novel has been well-loved by generations for good reason.
Whether swooning at the yearning romances, growing ever-fonder of the eccentric Bennet family or getting swept up in the English countryside, it stands up as one of the most enduring classic novels around.
And yes, you have your timeless adaptations like BBC’s 1995 series or Keira Knightley’s 2005 movie. Hey, even Bridget Jones’s Diary.
But what makes the story especially delightful is that, 200 years on, it has become a ripe and ready playground for creatives to try out the wildest ideas with Pride and Prejudice as the inspiration.
From the modern takes to the post-apocalyptic, here’s your guide to the weird, wacky and wonderful spin-offs.
Bride and Prejudice
We can’t start any wacky (but completely iconic) remake round-up without one of the very best out there…. Bride and Prejudice, from the creator of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha.
This 2004 contemporary remake stars Aishwarya Rai as our reimagined Lizzie Bennet, Laita Bakshi and Martin Henderson as the ever-charming Mr Darcy. From there, the plot is surprisingly faithful.
After all, you’d be surprised just how similar the societal rules of early 19th-century England and the South Asian community are when it comes to marriage.
From the epic tune, No Life without Wife to the unforgettable cobra dance sequence, this is an absolute must-watch for Austen lovers looking for a good ol’ time.
Fire Island
Next up, we have the long-overdue LGBTQ+ remake (once more modern, you’ll notice a theme here) of our classic novel.
Set in New York and featuring stars like Bowen Yang and Margaret Cho, this unapologetically queer take follows a ‘group of best friends’ who are spending their annual week away on the titular island.
From there, the story takes a positively Austentatious twist as they find that the course of true love never does run smooth.
Fire Island is available to stream on Disney Plus now.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
Now, we’re getting into the deep cuts.
If, like me, you were a GCSE student studying Pride and Prejudice during YouTube’s heyday, then you may remember John Green’s web vlog series, The Lizzie Bennet Series.
Step into a time portal to the early-to-mid 2010s with this eccentric adaptation that sees our plucky protagonist as a vlogger recounting her chaotic family life.
Given the constraints of the medium, it is brilliantly rendered and manages to merge Austen and the modern-day seamlessly. Definitely the most unique one on the list.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is available to stream in full on YouTube.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
The 2016 comedy-horror, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is a tongue-in-cheek, subversive retelling based on the 2009 novel of the same name that just keeps on giving.
Ignore the naysayers, I’ll defend this movie to my dying breath (and beyond).
‘It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains,’ – Lily James as Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
As it says on the tin, it’s a time-accurate Pride and Prejudice, but zombies are roaming about – how delightful!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is available on Amazon Prime Video now.
Austenland
Last but not least, we have Austenland.
This 2013 rom-com stars Keri Russell as a single thirty-something obsessed with the one and only, Pride and Prejudice.
So, naturally, she decides to travel to a Jane Austen theme park to find her perfect period drama man. What could possibly go wrong?
As she steps into her own topsy-turvy Regency romance, we get all the classic Austen tropes that make you swoon. The cherry on top? It stars the Emmy-winning icon herself, Jennifer Coolidge.
Austenland is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
The first five episodes of The Other Bennet Sister are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Episodes six to 10 will land on Sunday, March 29.
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