Henry Golding to work alongside Dakota Johnson in Netflix remake of Jane Austen's Persuasion

Malaysian-British actor Henry Golding will be seen playing Mr Elliot, cousin of Dakota Johnson's character in Netflix's adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Persuasion.

Malaysian-British actor Henry Golding is all set to star in Netflix's adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Persuasion starring American actor Dakota Johnson in lead.

Henry Golding is known for his role in Crazy Rich Asians.

According to Variety, Henry will essay the role of Mr Elliot, the cousin of Johnson's character. Netflix has not announced the actor who will play Frederick Wentworth (the lead, on-screen love interest of Dakota).

The movie, which is expected to go on the floors in May, will be helmed by Carrie Cracknell, who will make her feature directorial debut with it.

She is known for directing Jake Gyllenhaal in Sea Wall/ A Life on Broadway. Ron Bass and Alice Victoria Winslow have adapted the screenplay.

Persuasion was the last novel written by Austen, the author of literary classics like Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, prior to her death in 1817.

Star Dakota Johnson, famous for her role as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey poses for photographers at the European premiere of How to be Single. (REUTERS)

According to Variety, the novel has been adapted for the screen numerous times, including the 2007 TV movie starring Sally Hawkins.

In the 2007 released British television film, Hawkins stars as the protagonist Anne Elliot, while Rupert Penry-Jones plays Frederick Wentworth. Eight years prior to the film's beginning, Anne was persuaded to reject Wentworth's proposal of marriage.

Now 27 and unmarried, Anne re-encounters Wentworth, who has made his fortune in the Napoleonic Wars and is looking for a wife--anyone but Anne, whom he has not forgiven for rejecting him all those years ago.

Another production of Persuasion starring Sarah Snook is currently in the works at Searchlight Pictures. That version, announced in September 2020, is being directed by Mahalia Belo and written by Jessica Swale known for her works in Summerland.

Netflix's version is expected to begin in May, as per reports from Variety. MRC Film, the studio that backed Knives Out and The Lovebirds, is developing the movie with Netflix.

The project will be produced by Andrew Lazar and Christina Weiss Lurie. Elizabeth Cantillon through her untitled MRC Film Romance label, with Michael Constable and David Fliegel, will executively produce the movie.