BritBox is expanding its investment in British literary adaptations with the launch of Austen Untold, a new television anthology franchise developed in partnership with Cardiff-based production company Bad Wolf. The initiative will explore overlooked characters from Jane Austen’s novels, beginning with the newly commissioned drama The Other Elliot Sister.
The 10-part series, produced for BritBox North America and the BBC, will focus on Elizabeth Elliot, the eldest sister in Austen’s novel Persuasion. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027, with exclusive streaming rights secured for BritBox in Canada and the United States.
The announcement follows the commercial success of The Other Bennet Sister, which has become a significant subscriber acquisition driver for BritBox across North America.
BritBox Expands Jane Austen Franchise Following Streaming Success
The Austen Untold franchise represents a broader content strategy aimed at developing established literary properties through previously unexplored perspectives.
Its launch follows the strong performance of The Other Bennet Sister, which generated five times more new subscribers during its first 90 days than any previous BritBox title in North America.
According to the streaming service, the series contributed to its highest-ever weekly subscriber signups and strongest quarterly subscriber growth. BritBox also reported that half of its active subscribers have watched the drama.
The production will continue later this year with a previously announced three-part special.
New Series Will Explore Elizabeth Elliot’s Story
The Other Elliot Sister will adapt Janice Hadlow’s forthcoming novel of the same name, with Sarah Quintrell, who previously worked on The Other Bennet Sister, serving as screenwriter.
The series will examine Elizabeth Elliot’s experiences beyond her supporting role in Persuasion, giving the character a central narrative.
The drama will consist of 10 half-hour episodes and continue the anthology’s approach of reinterpreting Austen’s fictional world through characters traditionally positioned outside the main storyline.
BBC Studios and Bad Wolf Highlight Audience Demand
Jon Farrar, Chief Content Officer, Direct to Consumer, BBC Studios, said the success of the earlier adaptation demonstrated the commercial and creative potential of revisiting Austen’s stories.
“The extraordinary response to The Other Bennet Sister confirmed what we’ve long known: audiences have a deep love for Jane Austen’s worlds and an appetite for stories that uncover new perspectives within them. With ‘Austen Untold,’ we’re investing in bold reimaginings centered on the overlooked figures whose complexity and emotional journeys have often remained in the background of Austen’s stories. We’re delighted to welcome The Other Elliot Sister as our next commission and to continue our partnership with Bad Wolf and the BBC to bring Elizabeth Elliot’s story to audiences.”
Jane Tranter, CEO of Bad Wolf, emphasized the creative possibilities offered by Austen’s secondary characters.
“Elizabeth Elliot is an intriguing figure at the edges of Persuasion – someone we know just enough about to wonder what might be going on beneath the surface… We’re delighted to be returning to the world of Jane Austen with the BBC and BritBox, and to bring another overlooked character to the centre of her own story as part of Austen Untold – an exciting new anthology that gives us the chance to explore Austen’s world through the eyes of characters whose stories have yet to be fully explored.”
International Distribution and Production Partnerships Confirmed
The production brings together executives from Bad Wolf, BBC Studios and BritBox.
Executive producers include Sarah Quintrell, Janice Hadlow, Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder, Jane Tranter, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Jess O’Riordan.
Bad Wolf Managing Director Dan McCulloch and Chief Creative Officer Ryan Rasmussen have overseen the project’s development.
Canadian and US Audiences to Receive Exclusive BritBox Release
The Other Elliot Sister will premiere exclusively on BritBox in Canada and the United States, while UK audiences will access the drama through BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Sony Pictures Television will manage international distribution outside those territories.
The partnership builds on Bad Wolf’s established television production portfolio, which includes Industry, His Dark Materials, A Discovery of Witches and Doctor Who.
For BritBox, the new anthology offers an opportunity to extend a successful literary adaptation into a continuing franchise while strengthening its catalogue of original British dramas.
With production beginning in 2027, The Other Elliot Sister will become the next major project under the Austen Untold banner, reinforcing the platform’s focus on recognizable literary properties and character-driven storytelling for international audiences.
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