One of the more unexpected announcements to come along in recent memory was that Seth Grahame-Smith was re-working Jane Austen‘s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by adding a storyline that featured a zombie infestation. The title of the book would of course be Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and whether you liked the book or not (Read: Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), it was one of the more entertaining ideas that we’d heard in a long, long time. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before this fun new idea was turned into a fun new movie, and that moment is approaching.

To kick things off right, the trades are reporting that Natalie Portman will not only star in the movie, but that she will also be producing it. Portman will produce through her own Handsomecharlie company, and she will appear in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, a firecracker of a woman who’s stuck in between fighting off zombies and a budding love with Mr. Darcy.

Annette Savitch will produce with Portman, and had this to say:

It would be a challenge to deny how perfect Portman is for this movie. She’s one of the best actresses working today, and she knows how to alternate between serious films and laid back fun ones. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the ultimate playground for any actor who dare step inside, and If done correctly, this could be one of the best zombie films we’ve ever seen. If done poorly, well, at least there’s so many made within that sub-genre to make it look a little better.

Many other books like this have been written as well, such as Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and Elton John’s Pride and Predator. Expect to see movies based on them if this succeeds like it can.

[Source: Variety]