Jane Austen already revealed the fates of Elizabeth Bennet (happily married to Mr. Darcy), Jane Bennet (happily married to Mr. Bingley), and Lydia Bennet (presumably unhappily married to Mr. Wickham). The Other Bennet Sister puts the spotlight on Mary, described in Pride & Prejudice as plain, overly serious, and frequently moralizing. In this continuation of the tale, Mary “steps out of her sisters’ shadows in search of her own identity and purpose—finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way,” per a synopsis from BritBox. “Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention.”
“As someone who has always related more to Mary than Lizzy—something that was confirmed even more by reading Janice Hadlow’s brilliant novel—I feel incredibly lucky to be spending these next few months exploring her world in depth, as envisioned by these incredible women,” Bruccoleri said in a statement. “Sarah Quintrell’s scripts are packed full of beautiful idiosyncratic detail, empathy, humour and such warmth… revealing that beneath Mary’s awkwardness and formality, lies a woman longing for purpose and connection.”
Per BritBox, Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) writes one installment of the 10-episode series, while the rest are penned by Quintrell (The Power, Ellen). “I feel incredibly lucky to have Ella Bruccoleri on board as Mary Bennet. She brings the perfect balance of heart, sensitivity and humour to the role. I can’t wait for audiences to see her take centre stage and shine!” Quintrell said in her own statement.
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, and it’s been an eventful one already. Earlier this month, the PBS Masterpiece aired Miss Austen, a limited series about the other Austen sister, Cassandra. And Netflix is working on a new Pride & Prejudice adaptation from writer Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as Lizzy and Darcy. The Other Bennet Sister does not yet have a release date, but it’s slated to air on BritBox in the U.S. and BBC One in the U.K.
