Natalie Portman to Star in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; Will David O. Russell Direct?

We normally don’t use the word “destiny,” but this seems pretty close. Natalie Portman plans to star in and produce the film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which all but guarantees the film will have a cult life beyond its title.

According to Variety, Richard Kelly is also involved in the project as a producer, among others. The film will be one of many new spin-offs of Jane Austen’s work, which we’ve helpfully compiled for you in the past. This particular project will take perhaps Austen’s most famous novel and add a new flesh-eating curiosity, a twist that is doubtlessly enjoying a new honeymoon in Hollywood after the success of Zombieland.

It isn’t clear what the deal means for the movie’s release prospects, because Portman is currently attached to at least a half-dozen projects that all seemed like sure things at one point. One promising rumor that began to make the rounds on Monday is that David O. Russell, he of the still-unreleased Nailed, may come aboard as director. We’ll believe that when we see ink on paper, though.

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