Georgia Oakley, the BAFTA-nominated filmmaker behind Blue Jean, is taking on one of the most beloved titles in the British literary canon: Sense and Sensibility. Oakley will direct a new adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel — a bold assignment that follows in the formidable footsteps of Ang Lee, Emma Thompson, and the 1995 masterpiece that earned Thompson an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also announced that Daisy Edgar-Jones would be starring as the eldest Dashwood sister, Elinor, previously played by Thompson. No casting for Marianne has been set at this time.
It’s a major move for Oakley, whose 2022 feature debut Blue Jean won critical acclaim for its grounded, emotionally intimate storytelling. The film told the story of a closeted lesbian gym teacher navigating the anti-LGBTQ laws of 1980s Britain, and drew huge and widespread acclaim, with particular praise being directed at the way Oakley told the story, as well as the performance from her lead, Rosy McEwen. The film earned four BAFTA nominations, including Outstanding British Film and Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer — instantly putting Oakley on the industry’s radar as a filmmaker to watch.
With Focus Features and Working Title‘s Sense and Sensibility, Oakley steps into a project that carries the weight of legacy — not just Austen’s, but also that of the previous adaptation, which helped launch Kate Winslet into global stardom and gave Thompson a fresh start after one of the most difficult personal moments of her life.
What Happened in the 1995 ‘Sense and Sensibility’?
For those unfamiliar with the 1995 version, it’s a story laced with real-world drama. Winslet had only one film credit — Peter Jackson’s brilliant Heavenly Creatures — when she “accidentally” auditioned for the role of Marianne Dashwood. As director Ang Lee recalled in a recent Variety interview, she was meant to read for a supporting part, Lucy Steele. Instead, she showed up fully prepared as Marianne. It’s a happy accident.
“As soon as she walked in – we call it ‘chi’ in Chinese: the vibe. You can sense something coming in. She walked in as Marianne… She just explodes.”
It was also a turning point for Thompson, who adapted the screenplay while recovering from a very public divorce with Kenneth Branagh. The experience of writing Sense and Sensibility helped pull her out of depression and ultimately led to both critical acclaim and a new chapter in her personal life. She later met her husband, Greg Wise, on set.
The new adaptation will work from a script by bestselling author Diana Reid. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films will produce alongside India Flint of November Pictures and Jo Wallett.
Oakley’s version of Sense and Sensibility is still in early development.
via Collider