Movies

Netflix Adapts Pulitzer Prize Novel ‘The Age of Innocence’ After Scorsese’s Film

BBG News

The classic novel “The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton is being reimagined. First published in 1920, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book takes place in 1870s New York City and tells the story of a man named Newland Archer who must decide between his proper relationship with May Welland, a society woman, and a passionate romance with Countess Ellen Olenska. Previously adapted into a 1993 film by Martin Scorsese, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis as Archer, Michelle Pfeiffer as Olenska, and Winona Ryder as Welland, this movie won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

By the specified deadline, Netflix has given the go-ahead for a TV series adaptation of The Age of Innocence. This series is being developed by accomplished television writer Emma Frost (known for The Man in the High Castle, Shameless, The White Queen, and The Spanish Princess), who will also serve as the showrunner. Furthermore, Frost will act as an executive producer alongside Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Tracey Cook from Chernin Entertainment. Despite being ordered earlier in the year, the official announcement was made on World Book Day, which falls on April 23rd.

What This Means For The Age Of Innocence

It Is The First Onscreen Adaptation In Decades

Despite being widely recognized and adapted multiple times on stage and radio, the novel “The Age of Innocence” has not frequently been translated to film. Notably, before Martin Scorsese’s movie (which he co-wrote with Jay Cocks, who also wrote the recent Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown”), only two film adaptations had been made. The first was a 1924 silent film starring Beverly Bayne and Elliott Dexter, while the second was a 1934 production featuring Irene Dunne and John Boles.

The forthcoming Netflix series will be the first instance where The Age of Innocence has been translated for television. Earlier attempts included the 2009 episode of Gossip Girl titled “The Age of Dissonance,” which had the show’s characters performing a play based on the story, but their real-life relationships echoed the plot more than providing a faithful adaptation of the original novel.

Our Take On Netflix’s The Age Of Innocence

The Show Is A Promising Prospect

To date, no official announcements have been made regarding the cast of Netflix’s adaptation of “The Age of Innocence.” Given its long-standing absence from screen adaptations and the opportunity it provides for new takes on beloved characters, it’s plausible that this classic novel could attract prominent actors. If a compelling cast is assembled, it might compete favorably with Netflix’s other period romance productions such as “Bridgerton,” “Persuasion,” and their upcoming “Pride & Prejudice” series featuring Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, and Olivia Colman.

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2025-04-23 22:37

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