Scarlett Johansson to take on zombies?

David Slade

Natalie Portman and director David O. Russell both departed production of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies earlier this month, much to the dismay of those who fancied a bit of period scene-and-flesh-chewing.

But the flick, an adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s Austen-lampooning novel, is apparently such hot stuff right now that it’s already got a gaggle of big names interested in ensuring it shuffles onto the big screen.

Deadline are reporting that David Slade, fresh from helming Twilight: Eclipse , could be in the running for the director’s chair.

Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson was apparently being courted by David O. Russell for the role of Elizabeth Bennet, before Russell left to take on Old St. Louis instead.

Will Johansson still be cast if Slade or another director gets the gig? We really hope so – especially if Bradley Cooper gets the part of Mr Darcy, for which he is reportedly a firm favourite. Other names also being hurled around are Mia Wasikowska, Tilda Swinton and Catherine O’Hara, though none have been confirmed as cast yet.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.