It’s the mannered against the undead in the riotous first UK teaser for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the long-gestating adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s acclaimed novel of the same name. Smashing genres together in the vein of Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, Burr Steers’ visceral period piece is finally ready to strut its stuff after a number of creative switcheroos, but the director is keen to point out that the film takes the inclusion of the undead very seriously indeed, and in no way acts as a camp satire of Jane Austin’s seminal novel.
Granted, the timeless love story between Elizabeth Bennet (Cinderella‘s Lily James) and Mr. Darcy will still be woven into the fabric of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, they’ll just have to deal with flesh-munching zombies – referred to as the ‘Sorry Stricken’ – in addition to the usual relationship troubles. For Steers, “the idea was that it was ‘Pride and Prejudice’ set in this alternate world and then for everyone to play it straight. The movie’s big wink is that there is no big wink.”
And that’s a point driven home effortlessly through today’s debut trailer. Opening with serene shots of the English countryside, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the footage to follow would chart the familiar love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, what with the dulcet voiceover and gentle music, only for Pride to rip the rug out from beneath you and showcase that Pemberley has been overrun by the undead. It’s an expert bait-and-switch, and we’re hoping that that theme transfers to the final product.
After a long and winding journey in development, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will launch in theaters on February 5, 2016.