Trailer of Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ is out, but some fans are not having it
The trailer of Netflix’s film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion drew backlash from fans hours after its release on Tuesday, June 14, for seemingly watering down the substance of the renowned English author’s final novel prior to her death.
Jane Austen fans expressed their distaste for the Netflix trailer after “changing” the heroine Anne Eliot’s personality and “misunderstanding why Persuasion is as complex and deeply-felt as it is.” For fans, the trailer was a romance-comedy take on what was supposed to be Austen’s “devastatingly sad” story.
The fuck is this? Anne Elliot is not supposed to be some cheeky, wink-wink-nudge-nudge heroine. She's a wallflower whom most people barely give a second thought to. You change her personality and you're misunderstanding why Persuasion is as complex and deeply-felt as it is. https://t.co/xLaYAT3q11
— 𝕥𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕤 the very gay junebug (@cinema_gay) June 14, 2022
i truly, truly hate the move to do cheeky direct-to-camera address for 19th century adaptations, especially for ones like persuasion that are supposed to be devastatingly sad.
— Kathryn VanArendonk (@kvanaren) June 14, 2022
the problem is that direct address has a totally different context now. https://t.co/vJ3tHlQEZR
netflix trying to make persuasion, arguably austen’s most serious work, into a romcom is so
— anna (@softlydarcy) June 14, 2022
Some fans also pointed out the trailer’s superficial dialogues by quoting the lines from Austen’s book and juxtaposing them with what was said by the actors. The fans claimed that some of the famous passages of Persuasion, which “has some of the best writing in the English language,” was reduced to content.
jane didnt write "there could have never been two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. it was a perpetual estrangement" for this😭 https://t.co/izO12i3OpP
— steffi (@steffinixx) June 14, 2022
I’m actually tearing up because Persuasion has some of the best writing in the English language and this is. Content.
— Brandon (@blgtylr) June 14, 2022
This is a famous passage from Persuasion, and Netflix has turned it into,
'Now, we're worse than exes. We're friends'.
Whoever wrote that deserves jail pic.twitter.com/w1wHiSwVBz— Jennifer (@Jennipeg) June 14, 2022
There were also fans who compared Netflix’s Persuasion trailer with other series, mainly the Bridgerton franchise and the acclaimed TV show Fleabag written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and echoing others’ views about how Austen’s novel wasn’t supposed to be a funny comedy but a tragedy.
Netflix can fuck right off with this Bridgertonification of Persuasion. This is not supposed to be a fun, romantic romp--it's about the tragedy of succumbing to societal pressures instead of doing what's best for yourself. Get Dakota Johnson out of my Jane Austen, please.
— Abolish the Police (Sting, we're cool) (@420AttyChicago) June 14, 2022
i feel like they’re trying to turn this version of persuasion into period fleabag and it’ll flop trying😭 https://t.co/EC2gaxaKLl
— anne (taylor’s version) (@evilromuIus) June 15, 2022
Netflix’s film adaptation of Persuasion starring Dakota Johnson will premiere on July 15.