Daisy Edgar-Jones has been cast in the lead role for a new film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, one of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels. The film is currently in development under Focus Features.
The new adaptation will be directed by Georgia Oakley, best known for her critically acclaimed film Blue Jean. The screenplay is being written by Diana Reid. Production will be overseen by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner from Working Title Films, alongside India Flint of November Pictures and Jo Wallett.
Daisy Edgar-Jones, who gained fame for her performance in Hulu’s Normal People in 2020, will portray Elinor Dashwood, one of the two central characters in the classic story. The casting for Marianne Dashwood, Elinor’s younger sister, is yet to be announced.
The original Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811 under the pseudonym ‘By a Lady’, was Jane Austen’s debut novel. The story follows the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they navigate the trials of love, heartbreak, and financial hardship after their father’s death forces them to leave their family estate.
Edgar-Jones confirmed the news on Instagram, posting a photo of herself holding a copy of the Austen novel. The 27-year-old actress has since built a strong film career with performances in Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) and the recent blockbuster Twisters (2024).
This new adaptation adds to a long line of Sense and Sensibility films, the most famous being Ang Lee’s 1995 version starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Focus Features previously supported notable Austen projects like Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Emma (2020), both of which received critical acclaim.
