Period dramas back in vogue as ITV orders Jane Austen season

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 11-Nov-05, 11:00

LONDON – ITV has commissioned a series of lavish costume dramas based on popular Jane Austen novels, following the success of film and TV adaptations of 'Pride & Prejudice'.

'Mansfield Park' features Jane Austen's unlikely heroine Fanny Price, the timid poor relation who goes to live with her wealthy relatives and sticks to her quiet morality amid the inappropriate relationships and convention-busting desires of her cousins and neighbours.

It is to be adapted for TV by Maggie Wadey and produced by Company Pictures, the outfit behind the Channel 4 hit 'Shameless'.

Gothic romance 'Northanger Abbey' tells the story of Catherine Morland, who arrives at Northanger on the invitation of Henry Tilney to discover a world shrouded in mystery and intrigue. It is to be adapted by Andrew Davies, who wrote the screenplay for the 1995 BBC version of 'Pride & Prejudice' starring Colin Firth.

'Persuasion' features the ordeals of Anne Elliot, persuaded by her family to break off her engagement to her true love Captain Wentworth. The novel opens several years later with the return of the spurned captain and is a delicately wrought tale of lost opportunities.

It is currently in development by 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' star John Hannah's production company Clerkenwell Films.

ITV is also repeating its 1997 drama adaptation of 'Emma', starring current Hollywood A-listers 'Pearl Harbour' actress Kate Beckinsale and 'Minority Report' star Samantha Morton.

The series was originally watched by 12m viewers on ITV.

Stars for the three new Austen adaptations have yet to be announced, although ITV drama commissioner Nick Elliott said the season will feature "the absolute cream of British acting talent".

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