Just before lockdown, in February 2020 I went to see Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of ‘Emma’ at the cinema, and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it I can’t help but wonder why directors of film always choose the same Classics to put out there, to the public for general constumption? There are so many of Classics to choose from. For example, I would love to see new adaptations of George Eliot’s ‘Silas Marner’ or Charles Dickens’ ‘Hard Times’. I studied both novels at University and thoroughly enjoyed them, in fact, ‘Hard Times’ was one of the books I chose to write about in my dissertation.
I do, of course, understand the popularity of the likes of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ or Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ because, there is no doubt they are great stories, however, directing less popular stories could be quite wonderful too.
That said, I have heard a little rumour, that there are going to be two adaptation’s Jane Austen’s less popular (and final novel, published posthumously six months after her death) ‘Persuasion’ out sometime soon: one starring Dakota Johnson as the heroine Anne Elliot (due to be released on Netflix in 2022) and the other starring Sarah Snook (no release date yet). The former will be a modern version whilst the latter a period version. How exciting! Of course, I will be eager to see both, will you?
it's time to get creative! 