Welsh actor Matthew Rhys has been cast in the iconic role of Mr. Darcy for BBC’s upcoming miniseries Death Comes to Pemberley, Deadline reported Monday.
The three-part project, Pemberley, is based on P.D. James’ novel of the same name, which acts as a sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The story takes place six years after the events of the original novel: Elizabeth Bennet’s sister Lydia arrives at her home unannounced, claiming that her husband George Wickham has been murdered. The Darcys quickly find themselves tangled in a web of lies and deceit that threatens their idyllic lives.
Rhys joins the previously cast Anna Maxwell Martin as Elizabeth and Matthew Goode as Mr. Wickham.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice. Filming is set to begin next month and the series is expected to air in late 2013.
