Dakota Johnson, the one and only, will star in a Netflix adaptation of beloved novel Persuasion by Jane Austen. I love everything about that sentence, love it to bits.
Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot, a woman who once bowed to the pressure from her irritating, narcissistic family and dumped the man she loved (because he was poor).
Heartbroken, he takes to the sea and returns eight years later having made something of himself. But Captain Wentworth no longer wants anything to do with Anne, who is on the verge of “spinsterhood”. Instead, he seems to be more interested in her friend, Louisa. Or so it seems.
The novel has been adapted for the big and small screen a number of times in the past, like the 2007 movie starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, as well as the 1995 film, starring Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds.
According to Netflix, this new adaptation will take a “modern, witty approach” to Persuasion, helmed by theatre director Carrie Cracknell.
A Dakota Johnson-led Jane Austen adaptation? Absolutely yes please.
Johnson will star in a modern, witty approach to Austen’s beloved novel PERSUASION. Theater director Carrie Cracknell will make her feature directing debut.
(📸 Getty) pic.twitter.com/L4TflKcWmF
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) April 20, 2021
That’s basically all we know about it.
I think my favourite part about this news is that Anne Elliot is supposed to be a woman whose – and I’m paraphrasing from the book here – “bloom” had vanished early. I studied Persuasion in Year 11 and I remember reading “bloom” a lot. I also remember that Anne was plain and not particularly pretty.
Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot? Sureeeee.
Still, I will absolutely watch the shit out of this.
While we wait around for it, you can find most of the popular Jane Austen adaptations on streaming services.
At the moment, Keira Knightley‘s Pride & Prejudice is on Netflix, while the 1995 BBC series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is available on Stan. The, uh, version with zombies is on Stan too.
Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Emma is also on Stan and the 2020 version, starring Anya Taylor-Joy is on Amazon Prime Video. I really enjoyed the latest version, it’s a) gorgeous and b) so much fun. Connor Swindells from Sex Education is randomly in it as well.
You can find Sense & Sensibility, starring Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Grant, on Binge. It’s one of the best in my opinion.
You know what else is on Binge? Bride & Prejudice, the elite Bollywood musical version that will never, ever get old. Honestly, Jane Austen adaptations are the gifts that keep on giving.
