Aimee Lou Wood to lead new ‘Jane Eyre’ series from working title

Aimee Lou Wood is set to take on one of literature’s most enduring heroines. The actor will lead a new television adaptation of Jane Eyre, with the project in development at Working Title Films.

The series will be written by Miriam Battye, best known for her work on HBO’s Succession. Battye’s involvement signals a sharp, character-driven approach to Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel, which was groundbreaking for its intimate first-person narration and bold exploration of class, morality, sexuality and female independence.

The announcement arrives amid renewed interest in the Brontë sisters’ work. Following the buzz surrounding Emerald Fennell’s recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights, studios appear eager to revisit the emotionally charged Gothic romances that helped define 19th-century English literature.

‘Jane Eyre’ follows its titular heroine from a harsh childhood as an orphan to her position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she develops a complicated and ultimately transformative relationship with the enigmatic Mr. Rochester. The novel’s focus on a woman’s inner life and moral agency was considered radical at the time of its publication and has cemented its status as a foundational feminist text.

The story has been adapted numerous times for both film and television. The most recent major TV version aired in 2006 and starred Ruth Wilson as Jane. On the big screen, director Cary Joji Fukunaga helmed a 2011 adaptation featuring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender in the central roles.

Wood, who rose to prominence through her acclaimed television work and has since become a regular presence on the awards circuit, now steps into a role long associated with prestige performances. Additional casting, a director and a network or streaming home for the series have yet to be announced.

With a high-profile production company behind it and a writer experienced in complex character studies, the new ‘Jane Eyre’ aims to introduce Brontë’s fiercely independent heroine to a new generation of viewers.