Focus Features has released the first trailer for its upcoming film adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood, with a theatrical release set for October 16.
A long-awaited first look has finally arrived for Focus Features’ new “Sense and Sensibility” — and it opens with the kind of emotional, social pressure Jane Austen fans know too well.
In the film’s first official trailer. Daisy Edgar-Jones steps into the role of Elinor Dashwood. while Esmé Creed-Miles plays her younger sister Marianne Dashwood. The adaptation lands with the promise of an “irresistible new take on Jane Austen’s iconic ‘Sense and Sensibility’: a charming. witty. and deeply relatable story of love and sisterhood. ” as the logline frames it alongside the sweeping. dramatic tone of the Dashwood life.
The trailer also leans into the immediate stakes of the Dashwoods’ world. including the shock and upheaval of being kicked out of their sprawling mansion. Between moments of longing and a hint of mystery. the film signals that it will stay close to the novel’s twin pulse points: restraint and passion. tethered to love. loss. and the financial uncertainty of 18th-century England.
Alongside Edgar-Jones and Creed-Miles. the previously announced cast includes George MacKay. “Outlander” actress Caitríona Balfe. Frank Dillane. Herbert Nordrum. Bodhi Rae Breathnach. and Fiona Shaw. Georgia Oakley — known for directing and writing the debut feature “Blue Jean” — directs the film from a script by bestselling author Diana Reid.
Oakley’s track record sits at the center of the creative pitch. “Blue Jean” earned her a BAFTA Award nomination for Outstanding Debut. Before “Sense and Sensibility. ” she also wrote the bestseller “Love & Virtue. ” which won several book prizes. including the ABIA Book of the Year Award. Her second novel, “Seeing Other People,” was a bestseller and was shortlisted for the Indie Award for Best Fiction. Her third book, “Signs of Damage,” was released to critical acclaim in March 2025.
There’s already history in the title — and it’s part of why this new adaptation lands with extra attention. The story traces back to Austen’s own anonymous publication with the byline reading “By A Lady. ” a June 2025 announcement notes. crediting the novel’s foundation for establishing Austen as a literary force. That same statement calls the work a “timeless exploration of restraint and passion. ” following Elinor and Marianne as they navigate love. loss. and financial uncertainty. set against the societal expectations of 18th-century England.
If the ingredients sound familiar. the setting of this film release makes the timing feel personal for viewers now — especially with a wider Austen wave already in motion. The past few years have brought a true Jane Austen renaissance across screens big and small. including the 2020 “Emma. ” the 2022 “Persuasion. ” a recently announced limited series version of “Pride and Prejudice. ” the extremely successful 20th anniversary re-release of Joe Wright’s film. and “The Other Bennet Sister.” And joining the broader wave this year is a brand new “Sense and Sensibility.”.
Back behind the camera, production is being handled by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, alongside India Flint of November Pictures and Jo Wallett.
Focus Features will release the film in theaters on Friday, October 16. For now, audiences can start with the first trailer — a quick, dramatic glimpse at a story that never stops feeling urgent.
Sense and Sensibility Daisy Edgar-Jones Esme Creed-Miles Focus Features Georgia Oakley Diana Reid George MacKay Caitríona Balfe Working Title Films November Pictures