Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ on Netflix: Cast, Premiere Date, First Look Pictures, and More

Netflix is finally getting into the Jane Austen game with a brand new adaptation of Persuasion. Dakota Johnson will star in the film as Anne Elliot, the middle-child of a snooty aristocrat who is pressured to end her whirlwind engagement with a handsome naval officer. Years later, though, Anne is still unmarried, her family’s finances in ruin, and her long-lost beloved is now the rich and heroic Captain Wentworth. Can Anne rekindle a romance with the man she once rebuffed? Will a pretty young thing seduce Wentworth first? Or will someone else — like her handsome cousin — catch her eye?

Netflix is hoping that the same folks who swooned for Bridgerton will tune in to watch rising star Cosmo Jarvis and Crazy Rich Asians heartthrob Henry Golding fight for Dakota Johnson’s love in Persuasion. But who else in the cast of Netflix’s Persuasion? When will Persuasion premiere on Netflix? And is this Persuasion connected to the one Succession star Sarah Snook is making with Joel Fry?

Here’s everything we know so far about director Carrie Cracknell’s new Netflix film Persuasion…

What is Jane Austen’s Persuasion on Netflix About?

Jane Austen’s Persuasion is often considered one of the more mature of her works in terms of themes and subject matter. It was the last book completed before her death and follows an “old maid” as its heroine. Anne Elliot is considered to be kind, intelligent, and attractive, but not the “beauty” among her sisters. When she falls in love with a lowly naval officer at the age of 19, her mentor Lady Russell persuades Anne to break off the engagement, assuming a better match will be easily made. However, eight years later, a 27-year-old Anne is still single and still pining after her Wentworth. Her long lost love reenters her life as a catch (and he’s none too excited to see the woman who broke his heart again).

Persuasion is about the pressures put upon people to turn their back on true love, their dreams, and even proper matches. It’s full of some of the most delicious love triangles in all of Jane Austen and seems to be a testament to the enduring power of love.

Netflix’s new adaptation was announced, they described it as such:

Living with her snobby family on the brink of bankruptcy, Anne Elliot is an unconforming woman with modern sensibilities. When Frederick Wentworth—the dashing one she once sent away—crashes back into her life, Anne must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel.

The film takes a modern, witty approach to a beloved story while still remaining true to Jane Austen’s classic novel.

This led people to assume that the film would be set in modern times. However that notion has been dispelled with the release of some first look images that put the film firmly in the Regency period.

Who’s in the Cast of Persuasion on Netflix? And Who is Director Carrie Cracknell?

So you know that Dakota Johnson is playing Anne Elliot, Cosmo Jarvis is Captain Wentworth, and Henry Golding Mr. Elliot, but who else is rounding out the Persuasion cast? Richard E. Grant (is likely playing Anne’s father, but not confirmed), Suki Waterhouse is rumored to be Louisa Musgrove, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Discovery of Witches hottie Edward Bluemel is probably playing the Romantic poetry-obsessed Captain Benwick.

Netflix’s Persuasion will mark Carrie Cracknell’s debut as a film director, but she has quite the pedigree from the theater. Cracknell most recently gained fame for directing both Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge to Tony nominations for Broadway’s Sea Wall/ A Life. In the UK, she directed beloved actress Helen McCrory in two iconic National Theatre roles: Medea and The Deep Blue Sea. She also directed Vanessa Kirby in a new version of Miss Julie simply called Julie. So Cracknell is known for bringing new life to old classics and directing actors to some of their best work.

While it’s unclear exactly how Cracknell is planning on differentiating her version from others — while still staying close to Austen’s source material — we might have gotten some clues from a recent Henry Golding interview. The actor revealed that producer Andrew Lazar reached out and let Golding have his pick of the male roles. While Golding was likely being eyed for Wentworth, he went for Mr. Elliot, whom he thought was too “delicious” a role to turn down. Golding described him as a “period fuckboy.”

Is There a Trailer for Netflix’s Persuasion?

Nope! Persuasion is currently filming in England, so there’s no footage of the new film yet to see. However, Netflix has already released a trio of first look photos of Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot, Cosmo Jarvis as Captain Frederick Wentworth, and Henry Golding as Mr. Elliot. They are peppered throughout this piece.

When Is Persuasion on Netflix’s Release Date?

We don’t know! Usually we might be able to pinpoint a release year, at least, but production on Netflix’s Persuasion seems to be moving rather quickly. Netflix released first look pics of the cast only a few weeks into production. So it’s possible that Netflix is eyeing a late 2021 release date — think Christmas or New Year’s — but it’s more likely we’ll see it in 2022.

Are Sarah Snook and Joel Fry Still Starring in Jane Austen’s Persuasion?

Yes! That is an entirely different indie film adaptation of Jane Austen’s book that is still happening. Sarah Snook is currently filming Succession Season 3, which has delayed production on this other version of the story. Cruella and Game of Thrones star Joel Fry is poised to play Captain Wentworth to Snook’s Anne. This film will be directed by British TV alum Mahalia Belo (who already worked with Fry on the creepy BBC/Netflix hit Requiem.)

Is the Original Persuasion Streaming on Netflix?

Jane Austen fans will know that Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root starred in a beloved adaptation of Persuasion in the ’90s. That film is not on Netflix, but you can rent or purchase it on a variety of platforms (or watch it for free on Crackle).

Alternatively, BritBox currently has the most recent British TV adaptation of Persuasion, starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. So if you’re one of the legions of Jane Austen fans who subscribe to BritBox, you can check that out.

More on Netflix's Persuasion