It was just a few days ago that I reported about the ‘Pride And Prejudice And Zombies’ project possibly getting the miniseries treatment. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that the miniseries rumour was total BS.

Well, it certainly was because Variety have the announcement that the film adaptation is happening with Natalie starring as the feisty Elizabeth Bennet and producing.

Portman will star in and produce “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” a film that is based on the bestselling book written by Seth Grahame-Smith and Austen. Lionsgate will finance and distribute. Quirk Books published the tome.

Portman will produce through her handsomecharlie shingle with Annette Savitch, plus Darko Films’ Richard Kelly, Sean McKittrick and Ted Hamm.

This project is one I am damn curious about, although I’m not sure I would go as far as to say “excited”. I’m struggling to imagine the tone – is it pretty much a comedy or do they play it straight but with zombies?

For me it will all come down to who they get to direct. If it was, for example, Edgar Wright, I would be over the moon and very hopeful.

Until then, in my mind, it could be ridiculous or ridiculously awesome.

I’ll give the final word to Natalie’s producing partner.

“Natalie and I are longtime passionate fans of Jane Austen’s books and this a fresh, fun and thought-provoking way to approach her work,” Savitch said. “The idea of zombies running rampant in 19th Century England may sound odd, but it lends a modern sense of urgency to a well known love story.”