Dakota Johnson Dodges an Ex and Meets Henry Golding in the "Persuasion" Trailer
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Netflix's adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion" is almost here. The movie stars Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot, a woman torn between the duties of her family and the love she let get away. On April 21, Netflix announced the film adaptation will be released on July 15. The streamer released the highly anticipated trailer for the movie on June 14.
Here's how Netflix describes the film: "Living with her snobby family on the brink of bankruptcy, Anne Elliot is an unconforming woman with modern sensibilities. When Frederick Wentworth — the dashing one she let get away — crashes back into her life, Anne must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances."
It makes sense for Netflix to reach into the Austen catalog, since it's found success with "Bridgerton," which is also set in the Regency era and was inspired in part by the world Austen built. "Persuasion," however, has some major differences from the steamy romance series. "Bridgerton" is focused on the lives of the nobility in London and isn't afraid of a sex scene. Austen's heroines are members of the landed gentry, but their social class is lower than the "Bridgerton" cast, which is full of dukes and viscountesses. Her novels also take place almost entirely in the countryside, and the few times her heroines do head into London, they're absolutely miserable. And while people definitely have sex in and out of marriage throughout Austen's novels, she never chose to describe anyone getting down.
Fans will have to wait and see how the new movie chooses to handle Austen's iconic story of second-chance love. Read on for everything we know about Netflix's "Persuasion" adaptation, including the cast, plot, director, and more.
"Persuasion" Trailer
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"Persuasion" Cast
Dakota Johnson plays the lead Anne Elliot. Cosmo Jarvis ("Peaky Blinders) is Captain Frederick Wentworth, and Henry Golding is Mr. Elliot, a distant relative of Anne and her father's heir. The cast also includes Nikki Amuka-Bird, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Richard E. Grant, but their characters haven't been officially announced. It does seem safe to guess that Grant will play Sir Walter Elliot, Anne's pompous father.
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"Persuasion" Plot
Jane Austen's "Persuasion" was published in 1817, after her death. The story follows Anne Elliot, who, at 27 years old, is considered a bit of a "spinster." Seven years earlier, she fell in love with Frederick Wentworth and was briefly engaged to him, before becoming convinced that he was unsuitable due to his lower class.
When the story picks up, Wentworth is back in town, now Captain Wentworth, having made a name for himself in the navy. Anne still pines for him, but he won't give her the time of day. Torn between her family and the love she let slip through her fingers, Anne must choose what to do.
It's unclear yet what changes the movie will make to the source material's plot.
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"Persuasion" Director
"Persuasion" is directed by Carrie Cracknell from a screenplay by Ronald Bass and Alice Victoria Winslow. Most of Cracknell's previous work is as a director in British theater.