PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES & DOCTOR WHO?

It’s been more than five years since author Seth Grahame-Smith first announced that his popular zombie mash-up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would become a major motion picture. Originally purchased by Lionsgate in 2009, the production has endured a number of problems including an almost endless amount of delays and scheduling conflicts.

The novel was optioned by actress Natalie Portman, who had actually planned to star in the movie as well. But when the film failed to meet its initial start date, Academy Award nominated director David O. Russell withdrew, leaving the future of the project uncertain.

But that all changed late last week when it was reported that Matt Smith had joined the cast of the upcoming production; an announcement that simultaneously confirmed the project was moving forward while also putting anxious fans at ease.

Matt Smith, who recently completed a four-season stint starring in Doctor Who, has joined the cast of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel.

The long-in-the-works, on-and-off again project is finally going before cameras Sept. 24 with a cast that includes Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote and Douglas Booth.

Smith will play Mr. Collins, a parson who is on the lookout for a wife and proposes to Bennett.

This actually marks the third major announcement from Matt Smith who recently made his U.S. acting debut earlier this year in the neo-noir fantasy thriller Lost River, and is set to appear opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the upcoming fifth installment of the hugely popular Terminator series sometime late next summer.

But with director Burr Steers behind the camera, Smith is now officially ready to join the cast of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is set to begin filming later this week. Of course for additional details, you can feel free to read the original announcement online at The Hollywood Reporter or return to the Zombie Research Society for more information!