After a few false starts that saw actresses like Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasikowska and Anne Hathaway close to signing on and directors like David O. Russell, Mike White, and Craig Gillespie in the mix, the regency-horror-comedy mashup from Seth Grahame-Smith is lurching forward with a new director and leading lady.

Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones star and the inspiration for the song “Sussudio” (unconfirmed), Lily Collins will fight off the undead and the affections of Mr. Darcy in the adaptation. Burr Steers (17 Again, Charlie St. Cloud) will direct. With Steers’ involvement one has to wonder if Zac Efron will also join. Might be fun to see him get eaten. (THR)

You see, the other problem that the project is facing is that nobody wants to star in the damn thing. The film’s producer Natalie Portman isn’t interested in the role. Emma Stone, Mia Wasikooksskiwawa Wasikowska and Blake Lively have also passed. At this rate, I guess we could wait a couple years for Chloe Moretz to reach the appropriate age. (Deadline)

Lively has been flirting with the A-list for the past year or so, having gone “ugly” in The Town, cleverly disseminated nude pictures of herself to the masses (What the hell. It’s Friday. Here’s a link to the smoking-hot pics.), and jumped on board Oliver Stone‘s The Savages in her highest-profile role to date. Will this nascent project be the one that catapults her to superstardom? It’s hard to tell as this project has seemed to lose steam over the past year or so, but they could do a lot worse than Blake Lively. Ke$ha, for instance.

Lively would play Elizabeth, the star of the film, a Victorian young lady who enjoys impalin the walking dead as much as she does playing coy to Mr. Darcy.

While I don’t think Lively is a bad choice here, the selection doesn’t seem terribly inspired, as they are probably just going for the biggest name they can get. However, if attaching her gets production rolling on this film, good. Great. Splendid. She’s the best actress for the job, etc.

Now please start making the film.

Emma Stone has signed on to play Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Variety is reporting. The film, which is being produced in part by Natalie Portman, retells the classic Jane Austen novel, but with an added bonus of the zombie apocalypse being used as a backdrop.

6 photosEmma Stone

8 photosBrains vs. Booty: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Zombie Art

Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), Sean McKittrick, Ted Hamm and Natalie Portman are producing. (TheWrap)

“We are so excited to have Craig Gillespie on board this film,” said Alli Shearmur, Lionsgate president of Motion Picture Production. “His sensibility spans from genre-bending horror to elegant character-driven comedy, which is perfect for this movie.”

Sure, completely ignore the fact that yet another non-zombie director is being trusted to make a movie about zombies. Just shameful.

However, Gillespie seems to have eaten his way back to the top of the list. The rumor is that Lionsgate has told all the other potential directors “thanks, but really no thanks,” and that Gillespie will soon be signed. Jane Austen but with zombies, here he comes? We’ll soon find out. (Deadline)

Speaking of Burton, Grahame-Smith is writing Dark Shadows for him. Also, his other book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is being made into a film by Timur Bekmambetov, so if he’s chosen to direct Zombies he’ll be one busy bee. Nothing is certain though since Lionsgate is still considering other candidates. I’m sure if you stop one of execs on the street with your reel they’d be more than happy to take a look. (THR)

UPDATE: Variety is also reporting that Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia, Captain America) has signed on to play the key role of Henry Sturgess, a role that Joaquin Phoenix had been in talks to play earlier.

While Pride and Prejudice and Zombies seems to be the pool in which all talent dips their toes, only to yell, “Heavens! That’s too cold for me!” (or whatever), the similar historical bastardization, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter seems to get its house in order more and more every day. Today’s news is that we are close to a best friend/sidekick casting for our protagonist, Honest Abe (played by Benjamin Walker). Anthony Mackie is in talks to play the role of Will, Lincoln‘s buddy and partner in vampire-slaying. The part is said to be a big one, with lots of bloodsuckers dying by his hands, which would probably put Mackie over the moon if he hasn’t had such a good run of luck already.

He is starring with Hugh Jackman in the actioner Real Steel, then next up is a role with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau. Further, he’s gracing the cover of Vanity Fair‘s Hollywood Issue this month. So yeah, you could say his star is on the rise. (Deadline)

Update: Variety is also reporting that Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia, Captain America) has signed on to play the key role of Henry Sturgess, a role that Joaquin Phoenix had been in talks to play earlier.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

For those not hip to the concept here, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was originally a novel with a revisionist take on Lincoln‘s presidency, and by “revisionist” I mean the author asked, “Hey! Wouldn’t it be cool if Lincoln killed vampires?” Author and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith has a pedigree in this type of mash-up, also having penned the sleeper best-seller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The man has a style, that’s for sure.

It goes without saying that AL:VH will be brought shot and shown in magnificent 3-D, which we can hope will be a more immersive experience than Burton’s last outing, Alice in Wonderland.

The casting decision is, of course, a big one, but let’s not give too much weight to the actor playing Lincoln. When you’ve got Abe Lincoln throwing axes at Dracula, you’ve clearly waved goodbye to realism a long time ago.

Somewhere, there’s a zombie precariously close to jumping over a shark.

Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy are being considered for roles in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Dread Central is reporting. If the rumors are true, McAvoy will play the part of Darcy, and Hathaway will play Elizabeth Bennett.

The film, which will be directed by Mike White and produced by Natalie Portman, is an adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith‘s zombification of Jane Austin’s classic tale. It will mark the 324th zombie-related project to be green lit since the mysterious outbreak hit Hollywood in 2007. What makes this particular bout of over-saturation so disturbing is that no matter how badly producers run zombies into the ground, they always seem to drag themselves back up. Stay tuned for Meet the Zombie Fockers. (Pajiba via Dread Central)

I call this picture "Mike Whitesnake"

Lionsgate offered Mike White the opportunity to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and he has accepted. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering the feature film adaptation of the Jane Austen/living dead mash-up novel by Seth Grahame-Smith was one of the most sought after projects by some of Hollywood’s biggest helmers. So how did Mike White get it? Simple. The studio execs figured that someone who is as pale as Death but can walk around in direct sunlight must understand the zombie plight. Also, they liked that he’s funny. (Deadline)

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Somehow Mike White has emerged as the lead contender to direct hot project Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, according to the LA Times. The very white writer of School of Rock and Orange County, and director of Year of the Dog, has climbed up the legs and arms and faces of more appropriate candidates Mike Newell, David Slade, Neil Marshall, Jonathan Demme, and Matt Reeves to get the studio’s approving wink.

White would bring his comedic chops to the project, but he doesn’t have the special effects chops to create decayed zombie chops. Mike Newell, the guy behind the Harry Potter movies, could definitely take care of the effects, but his family sensibilities might make the horror elements suffer. Can someone just get Sam Raimi on the line already? He could shoot this thing in his sleep. 

The director’s chair left vacant by David O. Russell on Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is being retro-fitted for a few more asses. Jonathan Demme, Matt Reeves, the Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs guys, and Mike White joined previously announced asses David Slade, Neil Marshall, and Mike Newell for a shot at plunking down for some on-set bad back support.

As with everything nowadays, the casting list is also uncertain now that Natalie Portman has walked from the starring role. Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasoshoushawkasa, Tilda Swinton, and Catherine O’Hara are all rumored for the project. It’s impressive that so many big names (and Mike White) are interested in the project. I’m sure it will end up in good hands (or Mike White’s). (The Wrap)

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David O. Russell is removing himself from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in favor of working with another constantly hungry creature — Vince Vaughn. Natalie Portman couldn’t work out her schedule to align with O. Russell’s, and now he needs to hop on Old St. Louis.

But it looks like she won’t be the only starlet who won’t have the opportunity to be berated by the nutbar director. Scarlett Johansson had to drop out of Old St. Louis due to her own scheduling conflicts. We’ll keep you posted when the search for a new Pride and Prejudice and Zombies director begins, but we feel that the gig should go to Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman. He pretty much invented and mastered that genre as it is. (NY Mag)

Earlier reports that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would be a television miniseries seem to be nullified today. Variety reports that Natalie Portman is teaming up with Richard Kelly and Lionsgate to bring the project to the big screen. No word yet on when filming will begin. Portman is currently busy having angry sex with Mila Kunis in The Black Swan and then she has Kenneth Branagh‘s Thor after that.  According to Variety:

Portman will play feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, who is distracted from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy.

Is this some kind of trick? Throwing zombies into classic literature so that I’ll see it and maybe learn something?? Not gonna happen. **swigs from gasoline can** (Variety)

Jane Austen’s regency classic Pride and Prejudice got an undead facelift last year with the remixed novelization Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The book’s Twitter feed announced today that the tale is being adapted for the small screen as a six-part miniseries. No word yet on which network it will air, or on casting for that matter. Though I’d like to nominate Kiera Knightley. She’s got the experience of playing Elizabeth Bennet and the physique of a zombie. Basically any role in this thing is hers for the taking. (via io9)