Angourie Rice Reimagines Austen’s Classic with "Stuck Up & Stupid"

Angourie Rice, known for her roles in blockbuster films like the recent "Spider-Man" series and the musical remake of "Mean Girls," is adding another impressive accomplishment to her already burgeoning career: author. Rice, alongside her mother, the playwright Kate Rice, has penned "Stuck Up & Stupid," a young adult retelling of Jane Austen’s beloved "Pride and Prejudice." The novel, published by Candlewick Press, offers a fresh perspective on the timeless classic, tailored for a modern audience.

In a recent interview, Angourie and Kate Rice discussed their collaborative writing process, revealing the unique dynamic of working together as mother and daughter, while simultaneously forging a new relationship as artistic peers. Angourie expressed her excitement at sharing a more personal side of herself with her fans, particularly as the book draws inspiration from her own life, incorporating settings in both Australia, her birthplace, and Los Angeles, her adopted home.

"This is sort of a piece of my home that we’ve put in the book and that we’re sharing with people," Angourie explained. "That’s scary and vulnerable, but it’s also exciting because it’s something that has really defined who I am, and the place that we describe in the book is so special and unique, but also, I think, universal."

The seeds of "Stuck Up & Stupid" were sown long ago, as "Pride and Prejudice" held a special place within the Rice family. Angourie fondly recalled memories of her mother reading the novel aloud to her during childhood. Kate, in turn, had always entertained the idea of exploring the lives of the next generation of Bennet family members. When Angourie expressed her desire for a modern-day retelling, a request that only a writer mother could fulfill, Kate proposed a collaborative effort, sparking a unique and rewarding creative partnership.

The mother-daughter duo embarked on their writing journey by meticulously outlining the novel, drawing inspiration from Austen’s original text. They began drafting the first few chapters by hand while vacationing on the beach, taking turns writing and providing feedback on each other’s work. To foster a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, they implemented a strict editing rule: only add, never remove, during the early drafts.

"As a writer, you get very critical of yourself, and I didn’t want us to bring that criticism to each other’s work," Kate explained. "I wanted just to make sure that it was a very supportive way of writing together because it’s bad enough when you’re writing and you have your own voice in your head going, ‘that’s terrible.’"

Angourie added that their collaborative process embraced a spirit of improvisation, akin to the "yes, and" principle often used in improvisational theatre. This approach allowed them to build upon each other’s ideas and create a richer, more dynamic narrative.

While sharing one’s writing can often be a vulnerable experience, Angourie revealed that this was not the case with "Stuck Up & Stupid." Having shared countless personal moments with her mother throughout her life, she felt comfortable and supported in sharing her creative work as well.

"When I think about working together, I think about how great it is to have something beyond our relationship as mother and daughter," Angourie said. "It’s coming together to create this thing as two creative people who are being creative and who tell stories. And that’s really cool to sort of, I guess, meet each other as artists."

"Stuck Up & Stupid" retains the core elements of "Pride & Prejudice" while incorporating modern-day updates and addressing contemporary themes. Gone are the societal pressures of marrying off daughters for financial security or social standing. The character analogous to Mr. Collins is no longer trying to marry a cousin. Instead, the Mr. Darcy and Bingley characters are reimagined as celebrities rather than wealthy landowners, reflecting the shifted landscape of modern power and influence.

Throughout the writing process, Kate and Angourie constantly questioned the rationale behind retelling such a beloved classic. Their ultimate goal was to identify the universal themes that still resonate with contemporary audiences and to provide a fresh perspective on aspects that needed a more relevant spin.

"There are some scenes in there that just could have happened yesterday, could have happened today," Kate observed, emphasizing the enduring relevance of Austen’s themes.

Angourie echoed this sentiment, adding, "I remember feeling so intensely the anxiety and hurt of the characters. It didn’t at all feel far away to me. It didn’t feel like these characters were created 200 years ago."

The original "Pride and Prejudice" offers a critical commentary on the limited opportunities and inferior social standing afforded to women in 19th-century society. From Charlotte’s pragmatic acceptance of a loveless marriage to Lydia’s scandalous elopement and the pervasive pressure on Elizabeth and her sisters to marry quickly, the novel highlights the constraints placed upon women of that era. "Stuck Up & Stupid" seeks to address these issues by presenting a narrative that resonates with a generation of teenagers who are not necessarily prioritizing romantic relationships. The novel also delves deeper into the character of the mother, traditionally portrayed as a caricature whose sole focus is securing advantageous marriages for her daughters.

"For us, it was also about exploring the mother and daughter relationship a bit more and really trying to give that character a chance to grow," Angourie explained. This expanded exploration of the mother-daughter dynamic adds another layer of depth and complexity to the reimagined story, offering a more nuanced portrayal of the characters and their motivations. "Stuck Up & Stupid" promises to be a compelling and insightful retelling of "Pride and Prejudice," offering a fresh perspective on the timeless themes of love, family, and societal expectations, tailored for a modern audience. The book reflects a unique collaboration, born from a mother-daughter bond and nurtured through a shared passion for storytelling.