BBC, BritBox grow Austen Untold franchise with Jane Austen-inspired period drama

The BBC and BBC Studios-owned BritBox in North America have co-commissioned a period drama series titled The Other Elliot Sister, inspired by a lesser-known character created by Jane Austen.

Lindsay Salt

The 10×30′ series is produced by Bad Wolf (Industry) for BBC One, iPlayer and BritBox North America. Sony Pictures Television is handling global distribution.

It is being adapted by Sarah Quintrell from Janice Hadlow’s forthcoming novel of the same name, with production scheduled to start in 2027.

Like the BBC’s current hit period drama The Other Bennet Sister, the series focuses on a marginal character from an Austen novel – in this case Elizabeth Elliot, the overlooked eldest daughter from Austen’s posthumously published book Persuasion.

The Other Bennet Sister, which is returning for a three-part Christmas special next month, and The Other Elliot Sister are part of what BritBox is calling “Austen Untold,” an anthology franchise made up of Bad Wolf adaptations of Austen stories told through the perspectives of overlooked or underexplored characters.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: “The audience instantly fell in love with Mary Bennet and we’re sure they will do the same with Elizabeth Elliot. It promises to be yet another captivating, heartfelt adaptation from Sarah Quintrell.”

Robert Schildhouse, CEO of direct-to-consumer at BBC Studios, said on LinkedIn: “Developing and cultivating fandoms around successful franchises builds the foundation for a distinct identity in a crowded and often undifferentiated general entertainment landscape.

“While the talk of franchises and fandoms may evoke imagery of comic-book or video game characters, at BritBox we think about the stories we tell a bit differently, and we hope our audience does, too.”