Look: First Photo From Upcoming Drama ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’
Gather ‘round, Jane Austen fans, there’s finally some news to share about the small screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice sequel Death Comes to Pemberley.
The three-part adaptation is based on the 2011 P.D. James novel of the same name, which tells the story of famous Austen couple Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy six years into their marriage and combines a look at their life together with a murder mystery.
The drama stars Matthew Rhys as Darcy, The Blechley Circle’s Anna Maxwell Martin as Lizzie, Matthew Goode as Wickham and Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman as Lydia.
Now the first promotional image featuring the four leads has been released. See for yourself below, courtesy of the lovely folks at BBC One:
The official synopsis reads: "Elizabeth and Darcy, now six years married and with two young sons, are preparing for the lavish annual ball at their magnificent Pemberley home. The unannounced arrival of Elizabeth’s wayward sister Lydia, however, brings an abrupt and shocking halt to proceedings when she stumbles out of her chaise screaming that her husband Wickham has been murdered.
Darcy leads a search party out to the woodlands, and when they discover the blood-smeared corpse not of Wickham, but his traveling companion. Suspicion is at once aroused. The dramatic and unnerving events of the evening have shattered the peace both of the Darcys and of Pemberley, and as the family becomes caught up in the ensuing murder investigation, a mysterious web of secrets and deceit will threaten all that the Darcys hold dear...
Granted, we’ve only got a photo to go on so far, but doesn’t everyone look kind of perfect? Coleman, especially. And, while Rhys and Maxell Martin wouldn’t have been my first pick for Lizzie and Darcy, they somehow manage to look exactly right as a couple who are well into married life. And, with the UK transmission of Pemberley set for this holiday season, we should also get to see a trailer of some sort in fairly short order.
The drama will premiere in the UK on Boxing Day and will screen in the US on Masterpiece Classic sometime next year. Surprisingly enough, I’m actually looking forward to it.
How about you? Do you think that Rhys and Maxwell Martin make a credible Lizzie and Darcy?
