The Last Duel

A gripping tale of betrayal and vengeance set against the brutality of 14th century France. The historical epic is a cinematic and thought-provoking drama that explores the ubiquitous power of men, the frailty of justice and the strength and courage of one woman willing to stand alone in the service of truth. Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, two friends turned bitter rivals. When Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite, is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.

When I first heard about the last legal duel fought in medieval France, I knew it would make a powerful film. And when I learned that Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener were writing the script, there was no way anyone else was going to direct it but me. It was a chance to take the kind of historical epics that I love but with themes of courage, deceit and advocacy that resonate with audiences today. This is a story about a friendship and marital union that are destroyed as the result of one particularly cruel and dishonorable act, but it is also a story about the courage of one woman to speak out. It is a thought-provoking piece of work of which I am especially proud.

PRODUCTION 1: Ridley Scott, Kevin Walsh – Scott Free
614 N. La Peer Drive
90069 – Los Angeles, United States of America
Tel. +1 310 659 1577
simone.raineri@disney.com

PRODUCTION 2: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck – Pearl Street Films
1660 Euclid St.
90404 – Santa Monica, United States of America
simone.raineri@disney.com

OTHER COPRODUCTIONS: Nicole Holofcener, Jennifer Fox

WORLD SALES: Simone Raineri – The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
91521 – Los Angeles, United States of America
simone.raineri@disney.com

ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION: Simone Raineri – The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
91521 – Los Angeles, United States of America
simone.raineri@disney.com

PRESS OFFICE: Jane Gibbs – IM Marketing
12 Middleton Place
W1W 7TQ – London, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 7717545637
jane.gibbs@immarketinglondon.com

ITALIAN PRESS OFFICE: Simone Raineri – The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
91521 – Los Angeles, United States of America
simone.raineri@disney.com