The Jane Austen renaissance shows no signs of slowing down. After Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy and Persuasion with Dakota Johnson, it’s time for Sense and Sensibility to return to the big screen — exactly 30 years after Ang Lee’s cherished 1995 adaptation featuring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. In 2025, the Dashwood sisters are back, with a younger cast and a fresh vision that promises to revisit Austen’s classic with renewed emotional accuracy.

Produced by Focus Features and Working Title, the new film is now shooting in the UK. It is directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean) and written by bestselling author Diana Reid (Love & Virtue). Leading the cast is Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, Twisters, Where the Crawdads Sing) as Elinor Dashwood, the sensible eldest sister. Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna, The Thicket) will play the passionate and romantic Marianne. Unlike previous adaptations, both actresses are close in age to the original characters — Elinor is 19 and Marianne 16 — bringing a new emotional realism to the roles.

George MacKay (1917, Femme) plays Edward Ferrars, Elinor’s quiet and honorable love interest. Frank Dillane (Urchin, Fear the Walking Dead) is John Willoughby, Marianne’s dashing yet unpredictable suitor, while Herbert Nordrum (The Worst Person in the World) brings depth to Colonel Brandon, the more mature contender for her affections.

Caitríona Balfe (Outlander, Belfast) plays the widowed Mrs. Dashwood, and acclaimed actress Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, Ammonite) will portray the meddling but well-meaning Mrs. Jennings. Rounding out the Dashwood family is Bodhi Rae Breathnach from the upcoming Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, as the youngest sister Margaret.

Set for release in a landmark year — 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth — this new Sense and Sensibility stands out by keeping its characters close to the ages Austen intended. The contrast is notable compared to the 1995 film, where Emma Thompson was 36 playing teenage Elinor. This choice hints at a more emotionally faithful and grounded exploration of themes like youth, grief, desire, and emotional growth.

With a female-led creative team, a sharp script, and a dynamic cast blending rising stars and seasoned performers, Sense and Sensibility is shaping up to be one of 2025’s most anticipated literary films — ready to speak to a new generation with heart, elegance, and authenticity.