No One Wants Netflix's "Woke" Spin On "Pride And Prejudice"

Netflix is reportedly in the early stages of developing a new series adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, with scripts penned by Everything I Know About Love creator Dolly Alderton, as reported by Deadline. While casting details are still up in the air, Gentleman Jack producer Lookout Point is developing the project. 

Gentleman Jack's synopsis says it's “a dramatization of the life of LGBTQ+ trailblazer, voracious learner, and cryptic diarist Anne.” Considering how Lookout Point seems attached to the Pride and Prejudice series, we can probably guess that the remake will take a more “woke” approach to Jane Austen’s classic story. Great. However, it remains to be seen if the series will officially make it to screens.

If it does move forward, this will mark Netflix’s first adaptation of a Jane Austen novel since the 2022 Persuasion, starring Dakota Johnson. The streaming platform recently added the 2005 Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice to its library, further fueling anticipation around this potential remake.

While Pride and Prejudice remains a fan favorite to this day, not everyone is excited about a series adaptation. Many fans took to X to voice their frustration, with some even pleading, “We don’t need another adaptation. The last one was perfect!” Another commenter said, “Find other books. My soul is starving for new stories.” Someone joked that it will be called "Gay Pride and Racial Prejudice."

The pressure is certainly on Netflix, which has been criticized for turning beloved classics into overly modernized, "woke" versions of their former selves. Why can't they just leave the beautiful classics alone? If they follow through with the series, let's hope they preserve the traditional qualities that made Pride and Prejudice timeless.

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