Netflix Will Smash The Crown & Bridgerton With One Single Release Next Month

Published Nov 1, 2026, 6:15 PM EST Laura Hurley has been writing about the entertainment industry for more than twelve years, after a decade as a content producer and editor at CinemaBlend after writing for WhatCulture and Examiner. Attending events like SCAD TVfest and San Diego Comic-Con over the course of her career, she has been immersed in the world of network, streaming, and cable TV. Netflix has firmly established itself as a prime destination for book adaptations and period dramas. The Crown is still one of the streaming service's most acclaimed series, nearly three years after it finished telling the story of Queen Elizabeth II. Bridgerton has been a smash hit ever since the first season brought viewers back to Regency-era London for a steamy love story in 2020. Now, a new December release can combine the best of both worlds without copying either show. It's all but guaranteed to be a success. Netflix is releasing a new adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice, just two months after East of Eden brought John Steinbeck's novel to life on the small screen. Though Netflix has released limited footage of the new show so far, adaptations of Austen's books have been popular for decades, and Pride and Prejudice is widely regarded as her best novel. Debates have raged for years over which adaptation is best; the blockbuster Barbie movie even acknowledged the lingering love for Colin Firth's version of Mr. Darcy. Netflix is sure to have a hit on its hands when Pride and Prejudice debuts in December. While competition is stiff in the period drama genre, especially with The Crown and Bridgerton, the new adaptation could easily rank as the streaming service's most successful original series for the final month of the year — perhaps even the year as a whole. Pride & Prejudice Has The Potential To Outdo Netflix's Bridgerton & The Crown Netflix Despite The Crown's six-season, Emmy-winning success and Bridgerton's continued growth (the show has been renewed for two more seasons and a spinoff), neither has a premise as widely appealing as Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen's novel has certainly been more successful over the past two centuries than any of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books. Stories about the royal family are tricky to get right; the closer The Crown got to the present day, the more controversial and divisive the show became. Even now, over two hundred years later, Elizabeth Bennet's life and romance are still undeniably popular. It's not an insult to either Bridgerton or The Crown to say Pride and Prejudice has the most relatable, accessible source material of the three. Plus, for better or worse, devotees of other adaptations and the novel itself are likely to check out any new version. It remains to be seen how Netflix's Pride and Prejudice, which stars The Crown's Emma Corrin and Olivia Colman alongside Slow Horses' Jack Lowden, will measure up against Keira Knightley's 2005 film or the BBC's renowned 1995 miniseries. Fans of those versions will likely be intrigued to check out the new adaptation (though the negative reaction to Netflix's Persuasion might dampen fans' faith in further Netflix-produced Austen adaptations). A Pride and Prejudice adaptation can focus on telling the best version of the book possible, without worrying about setting up another season like The Crown and Bridgerton. While Jane Austen wrote six complete novels (and Sanditon proved even incomplete works can provide enough source material), they're not connected in any meaningful way besides themes and tone. The six-part series doesn't need to maintain continuity or set up the next chapter, even if it is successful enough to motivate Netflix executives to pursue more adaptations. Additionally, Pride and Prejudice likely won't be anywhere near as steamy as Bridgerton, which could appeal to audiences who enjoy more low-key, less dramatic period dramas. Anya Taylor-Joy's Emma (2020) probably did the best recent job of adapting one of Austen's Regency tales for modern audiences while staying (more or less) true to the era. The trailer suggests Pride and Prejudice will take some liberties with the source material without losing the spirit of the original story. That will be key to competing with both The Crown and Bridgerton. Which Pride & Prejudice Adaptation Does Netflix's Need To Live Up To? Netflix Despite the very long list of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, two stand out: the 1995 miniseries that introduced the world to Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and the 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. The BBC miniseries is celebrated as an incredibly accurate take on Jane Austen's novel. On the other hand, Joe Wright's movie captured the story's spirit in just two hours; for many, Knightley and MacFadyen are the definitive portrayals of Lizzie and Darcy. Netflix's Pride and Prejudice won't have it easy. Most importantly, though, the new 2026 version needs to live up to the 1995 version. While the BBC production isn't as much of a current pop culture sensation as the 2005 movie, a TV series needs to include much more of the book than is possible in a 2-hour film. The BBC adaptation did a masterful job of adapting the book and pleasing audiences for more than 30 years, to the point that plenty of people got the joke from the Barbie movie about how Depression Barbie was "going to watch the BBC's Pride and Prejudice for the seventh time." The BBC miniseries is loved; any comparison could make or break Netflix's upcoming release. Still, with Netflix's budget, the new cast, and the creative talent behind the show, this version of Pride and Prejudice has everything it needs to become a new fan favorite. Pride and Prejudice arrives on Netflix Thursday, December 3. Release Date December 3, 2026 Network Netflix Directors Euros Lyn Writers Dolly Alderton Creator(s) Dolly Alderton