Netflix announces new adaption of Jane Austen's Persuasion with Dakota Johnson

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The Netflix adaptation will be a modern, witty approach to Jane Austen's Persuasion

Dakota Johnson in The High Note.
(Image credit: Focus Features)

A retelling of Jane Austen's last written novel, Persuasion, is on the way with Dakota Johnson set to start in the new Netflix movie.

The Wrap reports that Netflix's Persuasion will be directed by Carrie Cracknell, who is known for directing Jake Gyllenhaal in the Broadway play in Sea Wall/A Life. The screenplay will come from My Best Friend's Wedding writer Ron Bass and Alice Victoria. Production is set to begin in May.

It seems as though Austen's Persuasion is the author's most popular novel at the moment: there is a separate production, starring Succession's Sarah Snook, currently in the works at Searchlight Pictures. Mahalia Belo will be directing that version, with a script by Summerland's Jessica Swale. 

Johnson has been keeping busy since her appearances in the Fifty Shades of Grey series, another novel adaption among her acting credits. She recently starred in the drama Our Friend with Jason Segal and Casey Affleck. She also starred in Universal's High Note alongside Tracee Ellis Ross. In the movie, Johnson plays a famous singer's personal assistant who wants to become a music producer. Next for Jonhson is Maggie Gyllenhaal and Olivia Colman's The Lost Daughter, and Stephanie Allyne and Tig Notaro's Am I OK?

There is currently no release date for Johnson's Persuasion, but in the meantime, you can check out our list of the best Netflix movies currently available to stream. 

Stephanie Williams

Stephanie is a comic book historian and pop culture critic for publications including SYFYFANGRRLS, Marvel, The A.V. Club, Nerdist, Den of Geek, and Rotten Tomatoes. Stephanie is also a comic creator with three ongoing webcomics, Parenthood Activate!, But What If Though?, and Living Heroes. She made her Marvel debut with a short story featuring Monica Rambeau in Marvel’s Voices: Legacy. She recently made her DC Comics debut in Wonder Woman Black and Gold #2 and is co-writing the Nubia and the Amazons miniseries.