Entertainment

Why The New Ridley Scott Blockbuster Will Have You On The Edge Of Your Seat

By Sophie Oddo
20th Oct 2021

Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges in The Last Duel.

It’s been a while since movie fanatics across the nation have been able to catch a blockbuster at the cinemas—and it’s safe to say we welcome it back into our lives with open arms. 

It’s time to splurge on popcorn buckets as big as your head, slurp through a brain freeze from a giant frozen Coke and devour a choc-top because 20th Century Studios' newest historical drama, The Last Duel is the big-screen experience you've been waiting for. Throw in the fact that it's a first-of-its-kind biopic epic from a woman's perspective and you have yourself a moment in history you won’t want to miss.

Gear Up For An All-Star Cast

The movie is centred around leading lady Marguerite de Carrouges, played by the stunning Jodie Comer, who claims she has been raped by her husband’s friend turned rival. 

The seriously juicy cast continues with husband Sir Jean de Carrouges played by Matt Damon, Count Pierre d'Alenço played by Ben Affleck and the one and only Adam Driver, who rightfully grabs plenty of screen time playing the Squire in question, Jacques Le Gris. Not only that, the film was co-written by Oscar-nominated Screenwriter, Nicole Holofcener alongside Damon and Affleck (the first time they have co-written as screenwriters since Good Will Hunting) — so it's kind of a big deal.

Everything You Need To Know About Director Ridley Scott

Hailing from England, Sir Ridley Scott is a renowned director and producer who is acclaimed for his compelling visual style—if you're a cinephile, he certainly needs no introduction. Catapulting to a household name after directing science fiction horror film Alien and neo-noir dystopian film, Blade Runner, Scott also directed Academy Award-winning Gladiator... need we say more?!

Damon, attune to Scott's coveted expertise, managed to hook him and get him in the director's seat. Having previously worked together on The Martian in 2015, Damon expressed his love for the pace at which Scott makes a movie, stating in a press conference that "The four cameras at a time, the amount of momentum that you get, it's just all the energy is around, right on the floor. It's just all happening, and it's really exciting. I just love that." 

Discover The True Story That Inspired The Big Screen Blockbuster

By now, surely the star studded-cast and acclaimed director has enticed you to book your seat but in case you needed any more convincing, the true story behind the screenplay will have you running to the cinema.

The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France is a 2004 book by American Author Eric Jager and is written about the last officially recognised judicial duel fought in France. Detailed within the book is the trial by combat which occurred on December 29, 1386, whereby Jean de Carrouges (Damon) goes head to head with squire Jacques Le Gris (Driver), after being accused of raping his wife, Marguerite (Comer). The winner of the combat would be declared the winner, so you’re going to have to catch the flick in cinemas to see who comes out on top. 

This moment in history has become a cultural legend in France and a source of great debate among historians, jurists, and now—all of us. So, if you don’t want to be left out of the heated debates and intense post-cinema debriefs, be sure to catch 20th Century Studios The Last Duel in cinemas on October 21.

Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with 20th Century Studios. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.

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