Netflix’s answer to the Bridgerton wait arrives next month: a brand-new Pride and Prejudice

If you thought Bridgerton was going to have the period-drama market all to itself again this winter, think again. Netflix is clearly keen to keep that frothy Regency crown snugly on its own head, as they’re lining up a monster rival for the Ton with a brand-new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice landing just in time for Christmas telly madness. In fact, there’s a wave of Austen-related content coming our way, so if you like your drama with a side of bonnets and longing looks across a ballroom, you’re eating well in 2026.

Pride and Prejudice hits Netflix as a limited series on 3 December 2026.

The Wait for More Bridgerton

Let’s get the obvious bit out the way: Bridgerton Season 5 finished filming back in October, so yes, it is coming – but Netflix is playing it coy with the release date, only confirming we’ll see it some time in 2027.

On top of that, they’ve announced a Violet Bridgerton prequel series (if you’re desperate to know where all those eight children got their overwhelming need to marry for love). That means two hefty helpings of Bridgerton are now in the pipeline, but let’s be honest, that pipeline looks a bit sluggish for those who’ve been refreshing Netflix since Francesca and Michaela’s big moment wrapped. If you’re hoping for romance, intrigue and a bit of scandal while you wait, Netflix reckons they have just the thing.

Pride and Prejudice: The New Challenger

Next month – and the calendar says that’s December 2026 for anyone losing track – Netflix drops its brand new limited series version of Pride and Prejudice. We’re looking at a classic, six-part retelling of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy’s famously prickly romance, directed by Euros Lyn. If that name’s familiar: it should be. Lyn’s directed a whole run of modern British TV hits, including Doctor Who when David Tennant was running about, Heartstopper’s first two seasons, and episodes of everything from Broadchurch to Daredevil and Sherlock. Not exactly standard fare for costume drama, but Netflix have clearly gone for an actual creative vision, not just another stately home parade.

• Emma Corrin (of The Crown) takes on Elizabeth Bennet
• Jack Lowden (fresh from Slow Horses) plays the new Mr Darcy
• Olivia Colman is your new Mrs Bennet (you know she’ll be fabulous chaos)
• Jamie Demetriou (from Fleabag and Stath Lets Flats) is Mr Collins

So, proper star power then. And that’s not even all of them, but you get the idea. Netflix clearly want this to be an event. It’s the first serious attempt in yonks to top the still-much-loved 2005 Keira Knightley/Matthew Macfadyen film – and given it’s been over two decades since then (time isn’t real etc.), there’s a big open space for a new generation to claim their own Darcy obsession.

The Soap Opera Arms Race

Worth noting: Bridgerton pretty much owns the frock-coat-and-melodrama territory on streaming, and other networks have tried to barge in, usually to little fanfare. There was the BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister earlier this year – basically Pride and Prejudice viewed through Mary’s eyes – which got a bit of buzz, but it’s not exactly a household obsession yet. (Bonus trivia: Ella Bruccoleri, who played Mary in that one, also did a run in Bridgerton's third season as Miss Barragan. Small world, period drama casting.)

But here’s the real twist: where Bridgerton can go on for years – spin-offs, new siblings, whatever Julia Quinn writes – Pride and Prejudice is naturally a bit more finite. Unless Netflix wants to go wild and invent fresh Austen-verse spin-offs, this is likely as much Lizzie and Darcy as we’re getting (for now, anyway; never say never with streaming). Worth mentioning: Bridgerton’s shown you can break a few rules and still keep viewers addicted, so if this Pride and Prejudice is a monster hit, don’t be shocked if the suits start eyeing up new Austen-adjacent ideas.

The timing’s good: come December, Netflix’s adaptation is up against some hefty TV noise – new Harry Potter on HBO, Emily in Paris and Only Murders in the Building both returning for season 6 – but this is the real period-drama event.