The curates' corner: Edward Ferrars vs. Edmund Bertram
When we think of Jane Austen heroes, our minds instantly fly to the brooding wealth of Mr. Darcy or the dashing chivalry of Captain Wentworth. But today, we are turning our attention to the quiet churchmen of the Austen universe: Edward Ferrars (Sense and Sensibility) and Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park).
As the daughter, sister, and cousin of clergymen, Jane Austen understood the realities of the Church of England better than almost anyone. While Edward and Edmund might not be the most universally beloved romantic leads, they are deeply complex, highly realistic men navigating the rigid system of Regency church patronage.
Let’s look at how these two future clergymen compare.
More than three decades after Ang Lee's acclaimed adaptation introduced a generation of audiences to Emma Thompson's Elinor and Kate Winslet's Marianne, Sense and Sensibility is returning to the big screen.
Focus Features has released the first trailer for its highly anticipated new adaptation of Jane Austen's first published novel, directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean) and written by bestselling novelist *Diana Reid. Judging from these first images, this isn't an attempt to recreate the beloved 1995 film. Instead, it appears to offer a fresh interpretation—one that feels quieter, earthier, and perhaps even closer to the realities Austen herself described.
Let's take a closer look at what we've learned so far.
A NEW GENERATION OF DASHWOODS
Taking on characters forever associated with one of cinema's most beloved literary adaptations is no easy task, yet the new cast brings together an exciting blend of established stars and rising talent.
Daisy Edgar-Jones leads the film as Elinor Dashwood, with Esmé Creed-Miles portraying the passionate Marianne. Alongside them are George MacKay as Edward Ferrars, Frank Dillane as the charming but unreliable John Willoughby, Herbert Nordrum as Colonel Brandon, Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood, and the always magnificent Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings.
It's a cast that feels refreshingly different from previous adaptations while remaining perfectly capable of carrying Austen's emotional complexity.
WHAT DOES THE TRAILER TELL US?
Although only a few minutes long, the trailer reveals quite a lot about the filmmakers' vision.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is its emphasis on the Dashwoods' reduced circumstances. Previous adaptations have sometimes softened the family's financial hardship by placing them in picturesque country houses that hardly seemed impoverished. Here, Barton Cottage genuinely feels modest. The interiors are smaller, the landscapes windswept rather than idyllic, and there's a sense that losing Norland truly changes every aspect of the sisters' lives.
Visually, the film also appears less polished than its predecessors—in the best possible way. Costumes look lived in, muddy paths remain muddy, and the countryside feels beautifully untamed rather than romanticised. Georgia Oakley seems interested in creating a world that feels authentic rather than decorative.
The emotional heart of the trailer, however, belongs to Elinor and Marianne. Rather than foregrounding romance, the footage repeatedly returns to the sisters themselves—their affection, disagreements, laughter, and shared resilience. It's a reminder that while Sense and Sensibility certainly contains memorable love stories, Austen's novel is equally a celebration of sisterhood.
There are also brief glimpses of Willoughby's undeniable charm, Colonel Brandon's quiet reserve, and Edward Ferrars' gentle awkwardness, suggesting performances that favour subtlety over melodrama.
MODERN AND DISTINCTIVE
In a recent interview with British Vogue, Daisy Edgar-Jones admitted that taking on Elinor was both thrilling and intimidating.
She described the 1995 adaptation as "one of my favourite movies of all time," before adding that the creative team wanted to make something "modern and distinctive" for today's audiences.
That ambition certainly comes across in the trailer. Rather than competing with the earlier film, this adaptation seems determined to find its own voice.
Edgar-Jones also spoke warmly about working with George MacKay, explaining that they quickly developed an easy creative partnership because they approach acting in much the same way—carefully, thoughtfully, and with meticulous attention to detail.
A FEW DETAILS JANEITES WILL APPRECIATE
One casting choice has already delighted many readers of the novel.
At 46, Caitríona Balfe is actually much closer to Austen's Mrs. Dashwood than audiences may expect. In the novel, Mrs. Dashwood is only around forty years old—a reminder that Regency widows with three marriageable daughters were often far younger than modern adaptations suggest.
The film also boasts impressive Austen credentials behind the camera. Produced by Working Title and Focus Features, it comes from the same studios responsible for Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Emma. (2020), giving fans good reason for optimism.
Filming across the English countryside also appears to make full use of the contrast between elegant Norland Park and the rugged beauty surrounding Barton Cottage—a visual metaphor for the sisters' changing fortunes.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor and George MacKay as Edward
For many Janeites, the 1995 Sense and Sensibility occupies a place alongside the 1995 Pride and Prejudice as one of the greatest Austen adaptations ever made. Comparisons are inevitable.
Yet after watching this first trailer, I don't think comparisons are what this film is asking for.
Instead of trying to emulate Emma Thompson's Oscar-winning screenplay or Ang Lee's sweeping romantic style, Georgia Oakley appears to be exploring a different side of Austen's novel—one rooted in realism, intimacy, and the everyday courage required of the Dashwood women.
Whether this new interpretation will join the ranks of the great Austen adaptations remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: after our first glimpse, I can't wait to see more.
What were your first impressions of the trailer?
Did any particular performance, scene, or visual detail stand out to you? And can any new adaptation ever rival the 1995 classic, or is it best appreciated on its own terms?
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil..."
— Pride and Prejudice
One of the reasons Jane Austen's novels continue to resonate with readers around the world is that they remind us how often first impressions can be misleading. We think we understand a person, only to discover there is far more beneath the surface than we first imagined.
Today, I am delighted to welcome author Mirta Ines Trupp to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss Kindle the Light of Liberty, a fascinating historical novel set in Revolutionary Philadelphia. While not a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the novel draws inspiration from Austen's timeless themes of misunderstanding, growth, family, and the challenge of judging character accurately.
At the heart of the story are Rose Wachsman and Nathan Hirsch, members of Philadelphia's Jewish community during the American Revolution. Through their journey, Mirta explores questions of identity, belonging, loyalty and love against the backdrop of a nation struggling to define itself.
In our conversation below, she shares how Jane Austen influenced her writing, why she chose this little-known corner of American history, and what readers might discover when they look beyond first impressions—both in fiction and in history.
Please join me in giving Mirta a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome!
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