Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades trilogy) has officially signed on to star in Netflix’s upcoming modern retelling of Persuasion, based on Jane Austen’s classic story, which was the acclaimed author’s final fully written novel. The project will be the feature directorial debut of acclaimed Broadway director Carrie Cracknell, who famously directed Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge to Tony nominations last year in Sea Wall/ A Life.
The streamer has also teamed up with MRC Film to produce the film adaptation which marks the latest collaboration between the two, who are currently working together on the upcoming Halle Berry-led pic The Mothership.
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Netflix’s Persuasion is being described as a modern and witty approach to the beloved Jane Austen story, while still remaining true to its source material. The film adaptation will center around an unconforming woman with modern sensibilities named Anne Elliot, who is living with her snobby family on the brink of bankruptcy. When Frederick Wentworth—the dashing one she once sent away—crashes back into her life, Anne must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances.
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The 1817 novel has been adapted for the small-screen a few times now. It was first adapted into a BBC miniseries starring Daphne Slater and Paul Daneman and was followed by ITV’s 1917 miniseries and 1995’s TV film version starring Ciarán Hinds .
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Persuasion will be directed by Carrie Cracknell from a screenplay co-adapted by Ron Bass and Alice Victoria Winslow. It will be produced by Andrew Lazar and Christina Weiss Lurie with MRC Film Romance Label’s Elizabeth Cantillon, Michael Constable and David Fliegel.
Johnson is best known for her role as Anastasia Steele in the hit Fifty Shades trilogy. She recently starred in Focus Features’ music dramedy The High Note opposite Tracee Ellis Ross and Kelvin Harrison Jr. and the drama film Our Friend. She will next be seen in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter and Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro’s Am I Ok?.
