'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' movie adaptation lurches forward

'Zombies' will now reportedly star 'Downton Abbey' actress Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet and Sam Riley of 'On the Road' as Mr. Darcy.

A movie adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” may finally be moving forward.

“Zombies,” which takes the text of Jane Austen’s classic story and adds a storyline in which England is fighting off an invasion of the undead, was originally published in 2009. A movie adaptation was soon embarked on and directors and stars cycled in and out in the rumor mill.

However, according to Deadline, filming on the movie is set to begin this fall and director Burr Steers in board to helm the film. Steers is behind such movies as the 2009 film “17 Again” and the 2010 movie “Charlie St. Cloud." 

The screenplay is by “American Hustle” director and writer David O. Russell and Steers, according to Deadline, while Lily James of “Downton Abbey” is reportedly playing Elizabeth Bennet. Actor Sam Riley of the 2012 movie “On the Road” is set to play the famous romantic hero Mr. Darcy and Bella Heathcote of the 2012 movie “Dark Shadows” will play Jane Bennet, according to Deadline.

[Editor's note: The original version of this story misstated the name of the actress who will star in the film.]