From E.L. James to Elena Ferrante and Jane Austen, “50 Shades of Grey” breakout Dakota Johnson, recently seen in “The Lost Daughter,” takes on another literary adaptation in “Persuasion,” Carrie Crackell’s film based on the 1817 novel. The Netflix title sees Johnson playing the role of Anne Elliot. “Don’t let anyone tell you how to live or who to love,” Anne insists in a new trailer for the romance.
Eight years after a breakup, Anne is still nursing a broken heart. She almost wed Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis, “Lady Macbeth”), but her family pressured her to end things. “I would have been a far happier woman in keeping him than I have been in giving him up,” she explains. Now Wentworth is back, and it’s clear that he and Anne haven’t lost their spark. But another romance also seems to be brewing — between Anne and Mr. Elliot (Henry Golding, “Crazy Rich Asians”), a potential suitor she describes as a “flirt and a hard worker.” “Don’t forget rich,” he adds.
“Persuasion” marks Cracknell’s feature debut. Penned by Alice Victoria Winslow and Ron Bass, the film launches on Netflix July 15.