Add Blake Lively's name to the long list of actresses who have been offered and rejected the lead part in the proposed big screen adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride And Prejudice And Zombies.
After two years of development - the feature adaptation having been announced in 2009 - Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is increasingly appearing to be one of those snakebitten properties that just can't get off the ground. Despite a heavy push by Lionsgate and month after month of effort the film has only a single attached cast member (Dominic Cooper as Mr Darcy) while the project has cycled between multiple directors and seemingly every young female star going has been offered and rejected the lead part at some time.
Lively was offered the part in late September but according to Variety's Justin Kroll she has now rejected the offer, joining a list of actresses refusing the part that includes Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, and Scarlett Johansson. Mia Wasikowska and Olivia Wilde have both reportedly been in the mix at different times as well.
This raises what should have been an obvious question months ago: Why don't women want to play this part? I can't imagine it's a money issue and there have been simply far too many rejections at this point for it to come down to schedule or similar issues. Is it time for Lionsgate to take a hard look at the script? Or perhaps to simply walk away? And are there any actresses left who would suit the part and could draw an audience that haven't already rejected it?
After two years of development - the feature adaptation having been announced in 2009 - Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is increasingly appearing to be one of those snakebitten properties that just can't get off the ground. Despite a heavy push by Lionsgate and month after month of effort the film has only a single attached cast member (Dominic Cooper as Mr Darcy) while the project has cycled between multiple directors and seemingly every young female star going has been offered and rejected the lead part at some time.
Lively was offered the part in late September but according to Variety's Justin Kroll she has now rejected the offer, joining a list of actresses refusing the part that includes Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, and Scarlett Johansson. Mia Wasikowska and Olivia Wilde have both reportedly been in the mix at different times as well.
This raises what should have been an obvious question months ago: Why don't women want to play this part? I can't imagine it's a money issue and there have been simply far too many rejections at this point for it to come down to schedule or similar issues. Is it time for Lionsgate to take a hard look at the script? Or perhaps to simply walk away? And are there any actresses left who would suit the part and could draw an audience that haven't already rejected it?