If you think you know the story of Pride and Prejudice, trust us, you’ve never seen a version like this.
Based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s cult novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies takes Jane Austen’s classic novel of manners and reinvents Lizzie Bennett as an ass-kicking slayer of the undead. We spoke to Douglas Booth, who plays Mr Bingley in the movie, to talk about what’s certain to be 2016’s most unusual historical zombie adventure film...
So, what attracted you to this film? It’s pretty unique.
Yes, it is. What I loved about the script is that it felt so much fun and so different and original.
Had you read the book?
I’d heard of it. I knew it was massive in America, but I hadn’t read it. Once I got sent the script and attached myself to it, I went and read the book and it was great.
I suppose many people will be expecting the movie to be a spoof. But instead of everyone playing it with a knowing wink, the movie is played quite straight.
Yes, the director [Burr Steers] said the big wink is that there is no wink. But, I mean, the situations are preposterous and funny, but the movie isn’t.
Can you describe your character?
I play Charles Bingley, Mr Darcy’s best friend who falls in love with Jane who is Lizzie’s sister, and Jane falls in love with Bingley too. Then Darcy persuades him to forget about Jane and to move away from Netherfield which obviously causes a rift between Lizzie and Darcy. And in amongst this, they’re dealing with a zombie apocalypse!
Were you quite au fait with the
Pride and Prejudice story?
To a certain degree. I wouldn’t say I was an expert. It’s a great book. The thing with all those kinds of books, people talk about time travel about wanting to go back to a certain period, and with these books, you’re right there.
It must have helped get into character filming at all these grand stately homes.
It did. We’re so lucky in England to have such a great buildings to rely on. I’ve done a couple of period things and I’m like, "I’ve shot in here before…!" My house in The Riot Club was my family house in this film.
Most of the cast of this film are pretty much the same age. Was it a particularly pally set?
Oh, it was such a great group. I look on this movie with such intense pleasure. Matt Smith’s a great friend of mine, and I’ve worked with him before, Lily James I know very well, I got to know Sam Riley and Jack Huston, who are both wonderful, the girls are all fantastic, Charles Dance is brilliant, Lena Headey’s just gorgeous… Yeah, it was fun!
Was it unpleasant hanging around so many people made up to look undead?
(Laughs) Sometimes. I remember the actress who played Mrs Featherstone was just sitting there with all this flesh hanging off her, and we were a bit like, bleugh, that’s really gross.
Did you want to be made up?
No, because I know how long those prosthetics take!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies opens in Cineworld on 11th February.
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