The movie adaptation of 2009’s paranormal parody book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the project that refuses to die–pray God Matt Smith’s charm proves similarly unassailable.
According to The AV Club, the beloved Doctor Who veteran has signed on for a major role in the movie and is due to start filming next week. Smith will be playing Mr. Collins, a slippery clergyman vying for the affection of Lily James (Downton Abbey) as Elizabeth Bennett; Boardwalk Empire‘s Jack Huston will also shamble in to play Wickham.
I’ll be dubious about this adaptation until I see it, but even though the addition of Matt Smith makes me concerned for my favorite Time Lord’s well-being (You’re eating, right? Do you need to talk? ARE YOU JUST IN IT FOR THE PERIOD COSTUMES?), it does give me a little more faith in the project’s director, Burr Steers (17 Again).
Smith demonstrated in the American Psycho musical that he’s got something of a knack for playing blood-covered assholes–hopefully Smith’s take on the comedic Mr.Collins will elevate Pride and Prejudice out of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter territory and into something with a little more staying power. Or Maybe Smith’s interest is an indication that I’ve been underestimating the project all along? I hope so. Doctor Who alums, Jane Austen, and, uh, brains…what do you guys think?
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