Doctor Who’s Matt Smith joins Burr Steers’ Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Filming will begin next week on the long-in-development adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and THR is reporting former Doctor Who Matt Smith has joined the cast. Smith will be playing Mr. Collins, and will star alongside Lily James (Downton Abbey, Kenneth Branagh's CINDERELLA), Sam Riley (MALEFICENT, ON THE ROAD), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire, KILL YOUR DARLINGS) and Douglas Booth (NOAH, JUPITER ASCENDING) in the film.

Burr Steers (IGBY GOES DOWN, CHARLIE ST. CLOUD) will be behind the camera for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, and if you're not familiar with Seth Grahame-Smith's novel, it's exactly what it sounds like.

From Amazon:

As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry?

I haven't read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but a few of my friends have, and said they really liked the book. Although I'm not expecting a lot from Burr Steers' film, I'm hoping it will be a fun little movie.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES will likely be in theaters sometime in 2015.