Pride and Prejudice gets a starry makeover as Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson and Glenn Close lead all-star Audible adaptation for Jane Austen's 250th anniversary
Is this the most A-list audiobook ever?
Forget screen credits - some of Britain's biggest stars are lending their voices to a new audio adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, released by Audible to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.
Marisa Abela plays a sharp-tongued Elizabeth Bennet opposite Harris Dickinson's brooding Mr Darcy.
Jessie Buckley voices the snide Caroline Bingley, Bill Nighy brings Mr Bennet to life and Glenn Close takes on the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
While some fans are mourning the fact this dream cast never appears together on screen, Ms Abela confirmed they did come together in the studio.
'Recording this with such a phenomenal cast and team was such a true joy,' she said.
Staying 'faithful to the original text', the production adds what Audible calls a 'unique interior perspective' from Elizabeth Bennet, offering insight into the heroine's inner world.
The audiobook will be released in English on September 9 in the UK, US, Canada, India and Australia, with translations in Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese to follow.
Ms Abela, 28, known for Industry and the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black, said: 'Elizabeth Bennet is one of the most fiercely intelligent and iconic characters in literature, and stepping into her shoes has been an incredible honour.
'What I love about this adaptation is how it lets us hear her inner world in such a vivid, intimate way - it feels both timeless and fresh.'
Mr Dickinson, 28, whose credits include The Iron Claw and Babygirl, added: 'Playing Mr Darcy was an amazing experience. I've always known him as this iconic character, but getting to really dive into the novel through this process gave me a whole new appreciation for him and the world.
'Being part of such a talented cast made it even better. It's a real privilege to be part of something so timeless.'
The supporting cast includes Will Poulter as Mr Wickham, Toheeb Jimoh as Mr Bingley, David Gyasi as Mr Gardiner, Rosalind Eleazar as Mrs Gardiner, Bertie Carvel as Mr Collins and Leah Harvey as Charlotte Lucas.
Other members of the Bennet family are voiced by Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Mrs Bennet, Sophie Wilde as Jane, Antonia Salib as Kitty, Patricia Allison as Lydia and Aasiya Shah as Mary.
'It's remarkable how Pride and Prejudice has stood the test of time globally to be one of every generation's favourite love stories,' said Aurélie de Troyer, Audible's head of regional content for Europe.
Netflix announced the cast for its upcoming six-part limited series based on Jane Austen's beloved 1800s novel Pride & Prejudice with Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden in lead roles
'Lulu Raczka's script is thrilling and conveys all of Jane Austen's energy in an engaging, modern way. Through the intimacy of audio, we have the unique ability to make the passion and romance truly electric, and Marisa Abela and Harris Dickinson's chemistry as Elizabeth and Darcy is undeniable.'
This latest production joins Audible's growing roster of high-profile audio dramas, including 1984 with Andrew Garfield, Tom Hardy, Cynthia Erivo and Andrew Scott, The Mysterious Affair at Styles starring Peter Dinklage and a trilogy of Dickens adaptations produced by Sam Mendes.
The company is also preparing new versions of all seven Harry Potter books, with the first due out in late 2025. Details of the cast are yet to be announced.
And for those who still prefer their Austen on screen, Pride and Prejudice is set to return to television in a new limited series for Netflix.
Dolly Alderton, the bestselling author of Everything I Know About Love, has written a six-part adaptation directed by Heartstopper's Euros Lyn.
'Once in a generation, a group of people get to retell this wonderful story and I feel very lucky that I get to be a part of it,' Alderton said.
The series will stay true to the period setting and features a high-profile cast.
The Crown's Emma Corrin stars as Elizabeth Bennet, with Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden as Darcy and Oscar winner Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
33 minutes ago
- Time Out
Win Son Bakery
In Williamsburg, Josh Ku and Trigg Brown had already made their stake on the corner of Montrose and Graham Avenues, with their full-service Taiwanese restaurant Win Son. But as their restaurant started to trend, they decided they would open a casual affair across the street, opening Win Son Bakery with Jesse Shapell and pastry chef Danielle Spencer in 2019. Years later, the bakery has become a favorite of the neighborhood due to its Taiwanese fare crossed with French and American influences. The first meal of the day starts with a riff on a BEC that we can get behind. Subbing bread for crispy fried and yet still chewy scallion pancakes, the pancakes are folded with Havarti, bacon, eggs and cheese. Plus, each sandwich comes with a gingery sauce for dipping. Lunch continues with fried chicken and shrimp on milk buns and snow pea salads with tofu skin. No matter what, a visit should always include an order of both (yeah, we said it, both!) made-to-order donuts: the millet mochi donut and the fermented red rice donut. Once you get a bite of that QQ texture, you'll understand why. The vibe: There are plenty of tables and stools here, but they are constantly in use, especially during the morning time. Luckily, the residents of Williamsburg know when it is time to give up a table, so you won't have to wait long to snag a seat. The food: Mornings call for the meaty Pork Fan Tuan or the savory Scallion Pancake BEC. Like we said, the donuts are non-negotiable—you have to order them and that's final.
Time Out
an hour ago
- Time Out
Beloved literary icon Jane Austen is celebrated at this new exhibit in NYC
Anybody who has taken a high school English class is likely familiar with the name Jane Austen, but that wasn't the case when Austen was alive. Instead, she published her works—even the famed Pride and Prejudice —anonymously. It wasn't until after her death in 1817 that Austen's name became famous as one of the great English novelists. That interesting legacy, as well as much more Austen lore, is part of a new exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum titled " A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250." It features first-edition copies of her novels, corresponding artworks, personal letters, historical documents and artifacts from Jane Austen's House in Chawton, England. This major exhibition celebrating Austen's 250th birthday is now open through September 14, 2025. "Our aim in the show is to welcome every visitor—regardless of their prior knowledge of Jane Austen, level of interest in Jane Austen, possible prejudices against Jane Austen," Juliette Wells, co-curator of the exhibition and Professor of Literary Studies at Goucher College, said at a preview event for the exhibit. To that end, the exhibition takes a chronological approach, starting with Austen's younger years when her father helped to buoy her love of the written word. Her father, a reverend, owned 500 books, a large personal collection for that era. Also rare for the time, he allowed his daughters to read whatever they wanted whether that was from his collection, borrowed from friends or obtained from a library. Unfortunately, her father's death dealt a blow to the ambitious young writer, who then struggled through unsettled years with a tight budget. Much of the story is told through Austen's letters to her sister and lifelong confidante Cassandra. Being able to see Austen's handwriting and read her words helps the late author tell her own story. Eventually, Austen found professional success, writing about heroines who value happiness, trust their own judgment and love wholeheartedly. That success continued from 1809 until her death at the age of 41. In Austen's time, only her family and friends knew she was the writer of popular works including Emma, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility. Even Austen's tombstone says nothing about her authorship. It's impossible to know why Austen chose to publish anonymously, Wells said, especially when her early letters demonstrate an interest in fame. It seems Austen wanted her books to sell well, but she didn't want to be personally identified, Wells explained. Meaning she wanted people to devour her writing, but she didn't want them to come up to her on the street. Plus, The Morgan's Dale Stinchcomb added, publishing for a single woman was still unusual at that time. If she was married, it may have been a different story. "'A Lively Mind' examines how it was possible for Austen to publish her now-beloved novels when women generally were not permitted to become writers, much less encouraged to be," said Stinchcomb, Drue Heinz Curator of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at the Morgan Library & Museum. We also don't know why she chose to use "By a Lady" as her literary nom de plume, though that wasn't an uncommon phrase for authors at that time. Even if they didn't know who she was, Americans were reading Austen in her lifetime—and continue to do so today. American readers, in particular, played a major role in securing Austen's place as one of the great English novelists. Austen's fandom has grown increasingly diverse and global over the decades. The exhibition ends with a nod to that trend by featuring a painting by Amy Sherald titled "A Single Man in Possession of a Good Fortune," which is a reference to the opening line of Pride and Prejudice. For even more of Sherald's artwork, check out this full exhibit of her work at The Whitney.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘You'll upstage the bride' people fume as wedding guest shows off very revealing dress that's ‘way too fancy'
And scroll down to see which celebs have been breaking the rules too FROCK NO 'You'll upstage the bride' people fume as wedding guest shows off very revealing dress that's 'way too fancy' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FASHIONISTA has come under fire after showing off her wedding guest outfit that trolls insist will ''upstage the bride''. Wedding season has well and truly arrived, which means many people have been taking to social media to share their stylish frocks and gowns. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 People have accused this wedding guest of 'upstaging the bride' with this dress Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk But one woman has left people demanding she changes her outfit for a close pal's garden wedding. The dress code detailed in the digital invite asked guests to "get just a little bit fancy" with chinos listed as an option for men and "dress/skirts" for female attendees. From this brief, the woman opted for a sleeveless floor length silver satin dress with a deep plunging V-neck. And even she seems unsure about her choice, after sharing a picture of her final look in the Wedding Dress & DIY Facebook page. Alongside the snap, she wrote: "Is this too intense to wear as a guest It's at a garden venue inspired by the French countryside. "I'm concerned this is a bit too much for the venue/garden vibes.. and potentially even a little too close to white? "The bride is a close family friend but I don't want to bother her when she has so much on her mind. "Bridesmaids are wearing burgundy red. Please help me out here; suitable attire or too much?" Her post quickly racked up almost 1,000 comments with plenty of fashion fans having their say. Not only did people warn her that it was "too revealing" and would take attention away from the bride, but others claimed its colour broke a basic rule because it looked near-white. Frankie Bridge slammed by fans again for SHEER wedding guest dress that's 'too much' and will 'upstage the bridge' Wearing ivory as a wedding guest is often considered a cardinal sin and the ultimate insult to the bride. One person said: "Too close to white and it looks too good. You'll show up the bride! Don't wear it to a wedding!" A second wrote: "So you want to wear a wedding dress to somebody else's fairly casual wedding…I think you already know the answer…" A third fumed "no, you'll upstage the bride" while someone claimed: "Too revealing for a will be on you not the bride." "Nope it's to fancy for what the invite says and also it looks like you're the bride", chimed in a fifth. Wedding Guest Outfit Etiquette If you're struggling to decided on a dress to see you through wedding season, here's a few rules on what not to wear so you don't get in trouble. Folklore says that wearing red at a wedding means you slept with the groom. Casual attire like jeans and flip flops should always be avoided. Any colour that could be picked up as white or cream - even if it's not. Most would agree that your cleavage needs to be covered. Wearing white is a massive no-no if you're not the bride. And a sixth echoed: "I definitely thought you were asking if it was too plungy to wear as a bride... then realised you're a guest." Others, however, jumped in to support the wedding guest and urged her to wear the show-stopping frock. One said: "Am I the only one saying the dress is fine for the dress code instructions? Lol." "I'd wear this gown; it's beautiful and you look beautiful in it", another insisted. A third agreed: "It's gorgeous. Not white. Wear it. Always better to be too dressed up than too dressed down." Meanwhile, a fourth wrote: "I don't think it matters if it's more casual or not. Just wear it if you like it and don't care what ppl thing if you feel beautiful or sexy in it. It looks amazing on you." Celebs aren't exempt from making fashion faux pas at weddings either. When Dani Dyer wed footballer Jarrod Bowen last week, guest and fellow Love Islander Georgia Steel was slated for wearing what looked like a revealing white dress to her pal's big day. After Georgia posted a snap on TikTok of the lace-trimmed Miss Circle number she wore, the trolls came out in force, bashing her for picking what was in fact a 'soft beige' dress. 'Wearing white to a wedding?' questioned one, while another waded in with: 'Way too bridal for a wedding.' And Georgia isn't alone. Two months ago, White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney came under fire for the 'inappropriate' dress she wore to her Anyone But You co-star Glenn Powell's sister's wedding. She chose a cleavage-baring corset-style dress from V Chapman in a very pale blue. Fans thought the colour was an issue. Comments included: 'That is not an appropriate shade of blue for a wedding' and 'The number one [rule] of a wedding is don't wear anything close to white.'
