Nora Ephron and Sony have signed up to bring us a feature film of Lost in Austen, according to Variety. This will be based on the ITV mini-series of the same name and plot that aired in the UK in 2008.
This project is slightly different from the two books just announced: Joanna Trollope’s reimagining of Sense and Sensibility as a contemporary novel and P. D. James’s mystery with Darcy and Elizabeth investigating Mr. Wickham’s murder.
And it’s different from the upcoming film, Austenland, which takes place in a Jane Austenish retreat (sort of like a vacation at Regency House Party).
This story is a time travel/character travel/book travel sort of plot: A contemporary woman finds herself in Lizzy Bennet’s shoes—and who wouldn’t want to be there (other than that hygiene, medicine, dental care, employment thing)? After all—Fitzwilliam Darcy, if you know what I mean.
The mini-series had its high points, among which I include Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Bennet. It’s a fun concept, and it will be fun to follow the discussion among Janeites and watch who will be cast as Mr Darcy (who is the one we all care about, after all).
And I say, “Why not? Hop on board, Nora. There’s plenty of room on the Jane Train.”
Myretta is the co-founder and current manager of The Republic of Pemberley, a pretty big Jane Austen web site. She is also a writer of Historical Romance. You can find her at her website, www.myrettarobens.com and on Twitter @Myretta.
