6/23/2011

Emma Stone offered lead in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Of Seth Graham-Smith's two period pieces dealing with the undead, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has had the toughest time getting off the ground. There was an issue with directors dropping like flies, first David O. Russell, then Mike White, before finally settling on Craig Gillespie(Lars and the Real Girl). A solid choice. Natalie Portman was initially set to star as Jane Austen's feminist hero, Elizabeth Bennet, but that fell through. Now THR is reporting that an offer is being made to Emma Stone, who saw her big breakthrough in another zombie flick, Zombieland.

In Grahame-Smith's version of the story, England has been overtaken by a horde of zombies, forcing everyone, including Bennet and her future main man Fitzwilliam Darcy, to train in the martial arts and become killers. If the whole thing sounds absurd well that's sorta the point. Marti Noxon, who was a chief writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gillespie's Fright Night remake, is perfecting the script.

Stone is obviously a great pick. She's tough, sexy, and has a comedic timing most would die for. She hasn't accepted the role yet, and even though she's been branching out into other genres lately(like this summer's Crazy Stupid Love) I think she'll be more than willing to jump back into zombie killer mode.