Whew! It's so nice to be able to talk about this at last! If you're not interested in movie making or screenwriting or Austenland, then avert your eyes from this blog for the next couple of months. I will tell all that I can! I will NOT be revealing things I shouldn't, such as exact locations of the filming, etc. But I got the go ahead to say who is playing which character.
Jane - Keri Russell
Nobley - JJ Feild
Martin - Bret Mckenzie
Miss Charming - Jennifer Coolidge
Colonel Andrews - James Callis
Mrs. Wattlesbrook - Jane Seymour
Mr. Wattlesbrook - Rupert Vansittart
EDIT: I forgot to add Rupert Vansittart and have corrected that. There is no Sir John and Aunt Saffronia, Mr & Mrs. Wattlesbrook merging those roles. It was the right choice for the adaptation to screen.
Isn't that a gorgeous cast? I'm so thrilled! If there is anyone you aren't familiar with and you read my blog, then you shortly will be. I'll devote a post to each of them over the next few weeks. The actors playing George East and Lady Heartwright (she got bumped up to "lady" in the screenplay) weren't mentioned in the official announcement, so I'll wait to drop their names.
More info to come, but to sum up: I've spent the past two years writing a screenplay from my book Austenland with Jerusha Hess. This is not to announce my book has been optioned for a movie. This is to announce that IT IS ON. We're making an indie movie from our screenplay and filming starts NOW.
I gotta go pack for England. Crap. I still don't fit into any of my pre-pregnancy clothes. Thanks for all the congrats. I'm so happy that you're happy too. This is a fantasy for sure. Don't pinch me. I'll leave you with this: only one time in my writing career have I written a character with a specific actor in mind. They were able to cast that very actor for that very part. The name appears in the above list. Can you guess?
By the way, if you were thinking of buying a copy of Austenland on ebook to prepare for the movie, did you know that you can still support your local indie bookstore and buy an ebook? Follow this link to purchase it from my local bookstore, The King's English. (through Google ebooks, for all readers except Kindle) Indie movies, indie bookstores, all good things!
Shannon - I'm so absolutely thrilled about Austenland being made into a movie. I will most definitely be going to see it on opening night! Congrats!!!
Posted by: Danyelle Ferguson | July 06, 2011 at 11:57 AM
LOVE the cast! I adore Keri Russell!
Posted by: Stacey (AKA Aubrey) | July 06, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Shannon, you're awesome. And, honestly, I'm already envisioning it. Northanger Abbey is one of my all-time favorite adaptions/movies. *sigh*
I want to see it NOW, dangit!
Posted by: Michelle Witte | July 06, 2011 at 11:58 AM
When I was reading, I imagined Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Charming. She's the perfect comedian for that role! I'm going to put my money on her as your character/actor match.
Posted by: Annie | July 06, 2011 at 11:59 AM
JJ Feild?!!!? I'm in heaven. Absolute HEAVEN, I tell you!!
Congrats! This is so exciting!
Posted by: Emily S. | July 06, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Oh my goodness that is amazing! Congratulations and I can't wait to see it!
Posted by: Ali | July 06, 2011 at 12:00 PM
I'm so excited! I absolutely love Austenland. I don't know if the character you are talking about is the one I am thinking, but I totally thought about Jennifer Coolidge when I read Miss Charming. Congratulations on the movie!!!
Posted by: Alison | July 06, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Charming. She's the one I pictured as I read the book, anyway!
Posted by: Karie | July 06, 2011 at 12:06 PM
I'm also guessing Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Charming. Couldn't be a better fit! I'm so excited for the movie! And I'm excited for YOU!
Posted by: Terri | July 06, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Gotta pack for England - I'm betting the filming is taking place there.
Congrats Shannon, this is unbelievably cool! I can't believe that you were able to keep this a secret for 2 whole years!
Posted by: Deena | July 06, 2011 at 12:17 PM
You get to go to England!!! So awesome. Is the whole family going for the duration? Wouldn't it be fantabulosa if the twins learned to speak with British accents...(how long does it take to film a movie?) I adore all things Austen, have read every fanfic P&P book that's been written, and loved Austenland, too. This is going to be a fun project to follow, and I'm so happy for your success. My next fantasy is The Actor And The Housewife on the big screen. That was a really fun story, which would be a perfect movie adaptation, too. Can you and JH look into doing it next?! :-)
XOX
Posted by: Blue | July 06, 2011 at 12:18 PM
I think I remember you mentioning Jennifer Coolidge as your fantasy choice for Miss Charming once.
I literally squealed out loud with glee when I read the announcement and saw the cast list. I cannot imagine a more perfect cast. I notice you don't mention Rupert Vansittart in this post, though he was in the press release. Am I correct in presuming that he will play Sir John? Because really, that is another perfect fit right there.
Posted by: elliespen | July 06, 2011 at 12:19 PM
JJ FIELDS?!?!?! JJ FIELDS!!!!!!!! I LOVE HIM!!! Jane Seymour! Hello, you got lucky! I'm so glad you are coming over here across the big pond and joining us for a time in the UK!!! I only wish I knew where you were! I've always wanted a signed book from yours truly.
Congrats! This is such exciting news!!!
Posted by: Mary@My Life in Scotland | July 06, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Can you tell us how much the screenplay deviates from the book?
Posted by: Tali | July 06, 2011 at 12:24 PM
now I have to re-read the book :-) how excellent, I'm excited for it to hit imdb - can you put in a word? so much easier to look up the info! I'm really excited for the cast, as well. Congrats!
Posted by: Kristine A | July 06, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I'm so excited that this is going to be a movie! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Alexa | July 06, 2011 at 12:34 PM
The news of this in your last blog post literally got me out of bed this morning! I am so freaking excited! And I'm especially happy about the cast! I LOVE JJ FIELD!! I really do hope your blog is just filled to bursting with posts about this over the next couple months! You get to go to England and watch your book made into a movie!! Seriously, congrats! You totally deserve this! And I am so freaking excited!! :)
Oh, and Jennifer Coolidge is pretty much exactly who I pictured for Miss Charming when I first read the book. So perfect and hilarious!! I can't wait!
Posted by: Carly | July 06, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Gotta re-read. Love Keri Russell.
Posted by: Sarah R | July 06, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Bret McKenzie? Are we talking Figwit/Flight of the Conchords Bret Mazkenzie? Ahhh!
Posted by: Holly | July 06, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Wow, that's great! I love Keri Russell, she's perfect for the starring part!
Posted by: Abigail | July 06, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I wanna go!!! It would be so fun! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Bearfoot | July 06, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Bret McKenzie is SO AWESOME. I'm so happy! *dies*
Posted by: Christen | July 06, 2011 at 01:14 PM
Cast is AWESOME.
Posted by: Holly Black | July 06, 2011 at 01:21 PM
1. FANTASTIC!!! So excited this is going to film, 2. I am adding my vote for Jennifer Coolidge as that is the first person who popped into my head when I heard about the film. 3. Keri Russell and JJ Fields - I'm dripping into a puddle of Jane Austen romanticism. (sigh) Thank you Shannon! (fellow Missoula Institute attendee currently living in Boston, MA)
Posted by: Karen Bingham | July 06, 2011 at 02:10 PM
Keri Russell! <3
Posted by: Amy @ My Friend Amy | July 06, 2011 at 02:27 PM
I'm so excited you get to go!!! I was wondering if you could.
Take pictures for us, 'kay?
p.s. 3 loads of laundry in one day?!? You are aMAYzing!
Posted by: Ruby Diamond | July 06, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Holy shmokes! This is SO exciting! One of my favorite books as a movie! With an awesome cast! Yaaaaaaaaayyyy!
Posted by: Rachel | July 06, 2011 at 03:17 PM
The first time I read Austenland I actually thought of Kerri Russel the entire time, so I'm thinking it was her. Amazing cast. So excited!
Posted by: Jennie Bennett | July 06, 2011 at 04:21 PM
I think you wrote it with Jennifer Coolidge in mind. I think Keri Russell is a perfect fit. At first I thought JJ Feild was cast as Martin because he's tall and lanky and can really do that teasing smirk thing. Of course, I'm not complaining one bit that I'll get to see him brood as Nobley. I'm also going to have to check him out as Union Jack in the new Captain America movie.
Posted by: Collette | July 06, 2011 at 04:43 PM
All I can say is Jane Seymour!!!! "sigh" The screen goddess!!! She has been one of my favorite actresses since I was young!!! She will be a perfect fit!!!
Posted by: Shannon Morris | July 06, 2011 at 05:26 PM
#1- When I read in the last post that you only changed 6 diapers, I was impressed!!
#2 - You can talk twins with Jane Seymour! Have you gotten her book about her twin boys? I used to read it to my twins!
#3 - Congrats! Wow! So exciting!!
#4 - Truly a fantastic cast! And Stephanie Meyer knows how to excite the fan base! Wooohooo!!!
Posted by: Alyson | July 06, 2011 at 05:50 PM
Am I the only one who sees the irony in the fact that JJ Feild, who played Henry Tilney in the most recent Northanger Abbey adaptation, is playing Nobley, especially since the Austenland book disses NA so blatantly (the only flaw in the novel-- that OF COURSE still rankles with this NA fan)?
Yes? Okay, then. ;)
Looking forward to this film with great interest.
Posted by: Emily | July 06, 2011 at 05:56 PM
Ok, my 10-mo-old has more dirty diapers than your twins. How is that fair?
This blows my mind. What a perfect book to adapt for the screen. And the cast. . . WOW! I just hope they don't change the ending too much, it was so good.
Oh, and congrats on twins! Cut yourself some slack. You had TWO BABIES. You're not supposed to fit into pre-pregnancy clothes for quite awhile. Don't make the rest of us look bad!
Posted by: Deliese | July 06, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Hmm ... Jane or Miss Charming??
I LOVE KERI RUSSELL!
Posted by: Siera | July 06, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Love, love. LOVE the book and the cast so this is wonderful news!
(1) Adding my vote for Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Charming.
(2) JJ Feild is yummy...and I am far too old to be typing that!
(3) Love Keri Russell, perfect choice for the lead.
Posted by: Trishaslay.wordpress.com | July 06, 2011 at 07:29 PM
Soo....this is quite the birthday present, Shannon. I thank you. The day before my birthday is the reveal of the SSP and then today (my birthday)you post the cast listing that's been officially announced and promise that more info will come as you are allowed to share it. This is just the icing on the cake for my day today!
Posted by: Rebekah | July 06, 2011 at 08:27 PM
This is the happiest film news in months...hands down.
Posted by: jenelcc | July 06, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Can I come to England with you? I'll babysit? I have loads of experience (ask my kids).
Posted by: Amber Argyle | July 06, 2011 at 09:33 PM
*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
I am so happy. Words cannot express. This is going to be such an awesome movieeeeeeeee! XD *sighs happily*
Posted by: Katie-wa | July 06, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Wow! Shannon, I am so happy with this news! I am so glad to know that Austenland is going to be made into a movie, that it stars the actress Keri Russell who I love so much, and that you are working with Jerusha Hess! I am so happy with the news! Good work Shannon!
Posted by: Callie the Strongbad Fan | July 07, 2011 at 03:16 AM
Austenland is my favorite of all your books! I'm so excited it'll be made into a movie. And how sad (totally sarcastic) that you'll need to go to England!
Posted by: Liz | July 07, 2011 at 04:49 AM
Wonderful cast! You hit the jackpot!
Posted by: Linda W | July 07, 2011 at 06:55 AM
These are all perfect! How exciting! Love James Callis, Bret McKenzie, and Jennifer Coolidge! I'm adding another vote for her as the one you had in mind while writing.
Can't wait for the next few months of blog posts!
Posted by: Laura | July 07, 2011 at 07:07 AM
Will you be doing any book signings while you're over here? Please?
Posted by: Hannah | July 07, 2011 at 07:14 AM
I'm SO excited for you and the film. i want to read Austenland - i'm a new-ish fan and haven't got the book yet, but i look forward to it!
Are you coming to England? I live here/there. Are u gonna do any signings whilst you're here, Shannon? (Hope u don't find the drop in temperare too annoying =)
Posted by: Crystal Broderick | July 07, 2011 at 07:22 AM
Wait, isn't Keri Russell pregnant?
Posted by: Liz | July 07, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Jennifer Coolidge fits the part perfectly, though JJ Feild also fits what I pictured pretty well. I'm so excited for you! England! Movies! Ah! How long do we have to wait until it's finished? Can't wait!!
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | July 07, 2011 at 09:23 AM
I'm so excited for the movie. And this cast is absolutely perfect! Congratulations on all of this!
Posted by: Kat Fisher | July 07, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Oh my gosh, I LOVE that cast! It's perfect! Congrats, Shannon! I LOVE this book, and I cannot wait to see it in movie form! And you will ADORE England. It's magical. *SIGH* Let us know if JJ really does ZING as well as Nobley does. I bet he does.....
Posted by: Becky | July 07, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Yay! I'm so excited for Austenland to be made into a movie! I'll be there opening night if it plays in Anchorage, Alaska! (squeals of excitement!!)
Posted by: Kathryn | July 07, 2011 at 10:45 AM