The Rumour Mill Podcast

#ad Thanks to Norton for sponsoring this video! Use my discount link for up to 10% off your first year! Head to https://norton.yt.link/hqshswL to stay private and connected online with Norton VPN.Death Comes to Pemberley should be the perfect Pride and Prejudice sequel. Crime writer PD James takes Jane Austen's most beloved couple and drops them into a cozy murder mystery on the eve of a ball at Pemberley. Matthew Rhys gives what many people think is the best Mr Darcy on screen! He's an older, married, quietly devoted zaddy. And Elizabeth Bennet finally gets to be a woman with a household and solve a murder at the same time, sounds exciting! So why does it feel so cold and dark? In this video essay I argue the problem isn't the murder at all, but the tone. It's a bit of a dour psychological thriller that could have been a quirky hit with Austen's warmth and wit. It's a spooky period drama that comes so close to perfect if only someone had let it enjoy itself... This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit regencyrumours.substack.com/subscribe

The 2026 Sense and Sensibility is back in the spotlight, and a few changes from the novel has Jane Austen lovers in a bit of an uproar. In recent interviews, Frank Dillane who plays Willoughby says Jane Austen's most hated character might not be so bad? Maybe Willoughby is more misunderstood than dangerous? On this episode of The Rumour Mill, we're going through Dillane's defense of Willoughby, the adaptations choice to condense the side character of Eliza Williams and other recent period dramas such as East of Eden which audineces are complaining are reframing "bad characters". What happens when characters get reframed, and then the actors who play them seem to have not read the books before going out on the promo trail... This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit regencyrumours.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we are breaking down the most significant book vs film differences to see how the novel's character-driven storytelling translates to the screen. We will take a close look at Elinor and Edward's romance compared to Jane Austen's novel and look at the chemistry between Daisy Edgar Jones and George Mackay. We'll also look at all the changes that were made between Marianne and Willoughby's character and how that effects Colonel Brandon. When a new adaptation comes out there's always changes made, and sometimes it improves the book, and sometimes it definitely doesn't...Let’s connect! Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@regencyrumours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regencyrumours/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@regencyrumours⁩ Substack: https://substack.com/@regencyrumours Email: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit regencyrumours.substack.com/subscribe

The new Lizzie Borden Netflix series is finally here, but this latest installment of the Monster anthology leaves a lot of historical facts axed (get what I did there). Instead of exploring the chilling true crime reality of the infamous 1892 murders, the show leans heavily into sensationalized gore and sexualising a spinster. On this episode of the Rumour Mill, we are diving into why this highly true crime adaptation missed the mark by prioritizing cheap shock value over the real history of the actual case.Instead we've got tightening corsets and gothic parlors and over-the-top macabre aesthetics without offering any real psychological depth. While it is always fun to see Charlie Hunnam back on screen, even his casting feels wildly out of place in a narrative that completely ignores the complex gender and class politics of the 19th century. Let's unpack why this bloody take on a classic Victorian era mystery feels much more like male-gaze fan fiction than a thoughtfully dark period drama.Let’s connect! Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@regencyrumours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regencyrumours/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@regencyrumours⁩ Substack: https://substack.com/@regencyrumours Email: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit regencyrumours.substack.com/subscribe

For this episode of The Rumour Mill, we have GOT to talk about two new adaptations that are coming out in 2026 about Robin Hood, maybe? We'll be talking the drama around Andrew Garfield's The Uprising and Hugh Jackman's The Death of Robin Hood. Whilst these adaptations look exciting, they are often gruesome and dark...and not what audiences are looking for in a Robin Hood adaptation. Why do studios continually keep making Robin Hood when audiences aren't asking for him? Are these two adaptations great examples of origin stories and subversions of a classic character, or just another medieval mess?Let’s connect! Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@regencyrumours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regencyrumours/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ @regencyrumours⁩ Substack: https://substack.com/@regencyrumours Email: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit regencyrumours.substack.com/subscribe