It takes a very game Jane Austen fan to be okay with the concept of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” The mash-up seemingly comes out of left field and on its head is at odds with the prim and proper society hierarchy of the Regency era. But then you watch the trailer – full of women in empire-waist dresses taking down the undead in the middle of a country dance – and suddenly it doesn”t seem so insane.
Earlier today, “PPZ” released a new poster for the film, featuring a FIERCE Lizzie Bennet standing proud and tall on top of a mountain of zombies. Oh, Mr. Darcy is there too.
Austen”s novels may be considered romantic literary staples, but underneath the love stories lay biting satire about the expectations of women in the 18th century. She handily skewers the concept of “capturing” a man and marrying well into rich and ennobled – but ultimately shallow – families. A great advocate of social change, perhaps it”s not so far-fetched to imagine she”d approve of a world where the Bennet sisters learned swordplay and hand-to-hand combat instead of embroidery and the pianoforte.
The image joins a growing collection of elegant yet terrifying posters put forth by LionsGate ahead of “PPZ” release in February. Here”s hoping each sister eventually gets her own portrait!
“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” arrives in theaters on February 5, 2016.