Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a “novel of manners” originally published in 1813, is one of the most beloved and widely imitated books in the history of the English language. It’s not surprising, then, that a zombie-infused parody was released in 2009, and that a filmic adaptation is on its way next month.
Somewhat invoking the spirit of Joss Whedon’s own adored Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies follows Elizabeth Bennet’s (Lily James) struggles with social customs and marriage prospects, but throws in a heaping helping of martial arts, undead warfare, and an independent, feminist spirit. Intermixed throughout the proceedings, of course, is a dose of comedy – both in satirical and straightforward varieties – and action; the film’s trailer crescendos with a now-obligatory shot of an explosion, this time of a bridge as our heroine races her horse across it.
With so many different components, the final quality of the film can go any which way, but with such a strong conceptual variety, it should an interesting ride, regardless.