Missed This Excellent Jane Austen Adaptation? Northanger Abbey Is Coming to ITVX
Jane Austen fans have a reason to revisit one of the author’s more playful stories. The 2007 ITV adaptation of Northanger Abbey, starring Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland, is set to arrive on ITVX on 24 September.
The period drama has long earned praise from Austen viewers, with fans describing it as an excellent and highly enjoyable adaptation. Nearly two decades after its original release, it is getting another chance to find an audience on UK streaming.
Based on Austen’s 1817 novel, the film blends romance, social comedy and Gothic intrigue through the eyes of its young heroine. Jones leads the cast as Catherine, with JJ Feild playing Henry Tilney and Carey Mulligan appearing as Isabella Thorpe.
What is Northanger Abbey about?
At the centre of the story is 17-year-old Catherine Morland, a spirited young woman whose love of Gothic novels has given her a particularly vivid imagination.
Catherine leaves her home village for a season in Bath, where she is introduced to a society very different from the one she knows. Her enthusiasm for Gothic fiction shapes the way she sees the people and situations around her, sometimes causing her to mistake fantasy for reality.
In Bath, Catherine encounters two men interested in her: the confident and jealous John Thorpe and the kind, sincere Henry Tilney. Although her new friend Isabella Thorpe attempts to influence her romantic choices, Catherine initially regards both men simply as friends.
Her circumstances change when she is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey by Henry’s father, the intimidating General Tilney.
The grand house immediately captures Catherine’s imagination. Surrounded by the atmosphere of the old estate and influenced by the Gothic stories she loves, she begins to suspect that there may be a darker mystery hidden within the Tilney family.
Her imagination eventually gets the better of her, putting her relationships and social position at risk.
Felicity Jones leads the cast
Felicity Jones takes the central role of Catherine Morland, bringing the young heroine to life in the adaptation. Jones would later become known internationally for films including The Theory of Everything.
JJ Feild plays Henry Tilney, Catherine’s principal romantic interest. The cast also features William Beck as John Thorpe and Carey Mulligan as Isabella Thorpe.
Liam Cunningham appears as the formidable General Tilney, while the supporting cast includes a number of familiar British television performers.
The adaptation was directed by Jon Jones, with Andrew Davies writing the screenplay. It originally aired on ITV in 2007 and has since remained a popular choice among Austen adaptations.
Why Austen fans still love it
Northanger Abbey has a slightly different tone from some of Austen’s better-known romances. Its story plays with the conventions of Gothic fiction while following Catherine as she gradually learns to distinguish the dramatic fantasies in her books from the realities of everyday life.
That combination of romance, humour and coming-of-age drama has helped the adaptation retain a loyal following.
Viewers have praised the film as an excellent interpretation of Austen’s novel, with particular attention given to the casting of Jones and Feild. One fan described it as a thrilling and up-to-date take on the classic, while another called it one of the best adaptations of a classic novel they had seen and said Jones and Feild were perfectly suited to their roles.
Other viewers have similarly highlighted the performances and the relationship between Catherine and Henry, adding to the adaptation’s reputation as an especially enjoyable Austen drama.
The film currently holds a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb.
A playful take on Austen’s Gothic satire
Austen’s Northanger Abbey is particularly well suited to the screen because Catherine’s imagination provides much of the story’s humour and tension.
Her fascination with Gothic romances means that an ordinary mystery can quickly become something far more sinister in her mind. The contrast between Catherine’s expectations and reality is central to the story, while her experiences in Bath introduce her to the complications of friendship, romance, reputation and social ambition.
The 2007 adaptation keeps that balance between romance and comedy while giving the story the period-drama setting Austen fans would expect.
The film runs for roughly 90 minutes and remains one of the better-known screen versions of the novel.
When can you watch Northanger Abbey on ITVX?
The 2007 adaptation of Northanger Abbey will be available to stream on ITVX from 24 September 2026.
For anyone who missed Felicity Jones’ early performance as Catherine Morland, the ITVX release offers a chance to catch up with an Austen adaptation that has continued to attract praise from viewers. With Jones, JJ Feild and Carey Mulligan at the centre of the cast, it should appeal to anyone looking for a period romance with a distinctly Gothic twist.