To think we don't really need another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice?

[squoosh]

According to the Radio Times the Poldark producers are planning an adaptation of P&P. Now God knows I love a bit of Austen, but there was the 1995 TV series and the 2005 film. And that's just in the last 25 years. And there was a stilted early 1980s version and that awful 1940-something film starring Laurence Olivier. And probably some other versions I've never even heard of. We've even had zombie P&P.

Jane herself must be rolling her eyes thinking 'have you NO imagination?'

There are so many other books that have been languishing patiently waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Let one of them be the prom queen for once!

Which book would you like to see adapted for the screen? I'd love to see a proper version of The Woman in White. I'd heard it was in the works but can't find anything on it.

P.S for all I'm complaining about yet another Pride and Prejudice that's not to say I wouldn't watch it. I just like to moan.

The recent BBC adaptations of Agatha Christie have I missed something great? :O I agree that the Joan Hickson Marples are not actually good. Only Joan Hickson is. ;)

Morris Am at a total loss as to your comment about the production values of the BBC Hickson Miss Marples. The BBC spent a fortune on them, best crews, decent actors, no cheap studio sets, entirely shot on locations, pretty faithful to the books, which is why they were one of the most successful series the BBC ever had and sold round the world.

Incidentally, they've all been remastered and look astonishingly crisp and new.

Idris Elba as Mr Darcy. Jesus fucking wept.

Aidan Turner is an awful choice too!

Today 14:51 ginghambox

Idris Elba as Mr Darcy. Jesus fucking wept

I echo your sentiments. Some people have no idea.

Tom Hiddlestone as Mr Darcy.

Or Danny Dyer.

Nooo! No, no, no. God, it's the same as people's choices for Bond. Neither Bond or Darcy are beautiful (Aidan Turner) or pretty (Hiddleston).

If Richard Armitage hadn't already done his swoonworthy period turn as Mr Thornton, he'd be a great Darcy.

Hiddleston as anything = deeply off putting.

Once upon a time, TV cast really good actors because they were a) right for the part and b) really good actors. These days too many TV shows cast someone simply based on their looks or "phwoargh" appeal to the female viewer regardless of whether they are a) right for the part and b) really good actors.

Persuasion is of course the best Austen book but there have already been good adaptations done of that.

Speaking of definitive performances, Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth is probably my favorite Austen character portrayal of all time.

I'd love to see another adaptation,

The Lady Catherine in the 95 version was perfect.

I think it's unfair to call the 2005 film rushed. It felt rushed because we were all used to the BBC version but that was 6 hours of TV and a film can never be much more than 2 hours.

Ooh yes to richard armitage as darcy! A northern Darcy. Probably bit too old now though.

Eddie redmayne would make a good Bingly IMO.

Too similar to the film Bingley. Yes, RA probably is a bit too old, he'd be over double Lizzie's age. Too old for Bond, probably, as well .

What about Henry caville for darcy, I luffs him.

Aren't they all a bit old? Lizzie was 20, Jane 21 and Darcy and Bingley must only have been about 26.

I think the men were quite a bit older than the women, but RA is 46 which I think even for Regency England is pushing it a bit as a suitor for a 20 year old. I thought the men would have been early 30s?

I don't think they can be more than mid-20s when you consider the age of their siblings. (Georgiana, Mrs Hurst, Caroline Bingley)

Not to mention Darcy and Wickham are the same age and Wickham ran away with a not quite 15 year old Georgiana not long after being sent down from university.

I'll always watch a new adaptation of P&P.

It would be nice if there were adaptations of newer books by women, about women and for women, but if my choice is between another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and another one of those malecentric action movies ... give me more Jane Austen any day.

Georgiana is over 10 years younger than Darcy, she was 16 when Wickham tried to hook her, not sure how many years prior to the events in P&P that was? So I think 26 would be the absolute youngest D could be, but yes, 32 might be a bit too old.

On the plus side, this thread is giving me lots of reading material, starting with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Oh hang on - he's 28.

“Such I was, from eight to eight-and- twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth!"

There you are. Definitely not RA then! Or Idris or Tom.