The Last Duel

THE LAST DUEL

Studio: FOX
Prod Co: Scott Free, Pearl Street
Dates: Feb 27th, 2020 through May 2020
Location: Europe

Writer (Current): NICOLE HOLOFCENER, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
Writer (Previous): Shaun Grant
Source Material By: Eric Jager
Producer: Ridley Scott, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Kevin Walsh, NICOLE HOLOFCENER, Drew Vinton
Director: Ridley Scott
Casting Director: Kate Rhodes James

Cast: Talent: Matt Damon [JEAN DE CARROUGES: Set], Ben Affleck [COUNT PIERRE: Set], Adam Driver [JACQUES LE GRIS: Set], ALEX LAWTHER [KING CHARLES VI: OFFER], Jodie Comer [MARGUERITE DE THIBOUVILLE: Set], Isabelle Huppert [NICOLE DE CARROUGES: Choice(s)]

Logline: Details the true story of the last legal trial by combat in France. Knight Jean de Carrouges and the squire Jacques Le Gris were in adispute, with de Carrouges accusing Le Gris of raping his wife. The wrangling went up the flagpole to King Charles VI, who decided that a duel would be the best way to handle the matter. Whoever was still alive at the end of the duel would be declared the winner as a sign of God's will. The stakes were high: If de Carrouges lost the duel, Marguerite de Carrouges would be burned at the stake as punishment for committing a false accusation.

Roles:

[JEAN DE CARROUGES]
Lead Male (50 - 55) White
French Norman knight. He became infamous in medieval France for fighting in the last judicial duel permitted by the French king and the Parlement of Paris. The combat was decreed in 1386 to contest charges of rape Carrouges had brought against his neighbour and erstwhile friend Jacques Le Gris on behalf of his wife Marguerite.
Set Matt Damon

[JACQUES LE GRIS]
Lead Male White
a French squire and knight who gained fame and infamy when he engaged in the last judicial duel permitted by the Parlement of Paris after he was accused of rape by the wife of his neighbour and rival Sir Jean de Carrouges. Carrouges brought
legal proceedings against Le Gris before King Charles VI who after hearing the evidence, authorised a trial by combat to determine the question. The duel attracted thousands of
spectators and has been discussed by many notable French writers, from the contemporary Jean Froissart to Voltaire.
Set Adam Driver

[MARGUERITE DE THIBOUVILLE]
Lead Female (20 - 25) White
Jean De Carrouges's wife. Young, beautiful, sensible and chaste. She has natural striking beauty and a sharp wit. Captivating, modest but spirited. A cloud hangs over her family name after her father twice betrayed the Kings of France. She falls in love with and marries Carrouges. While Carrouges is on a
military expedition, his once old friend and now rival Jacques Le Gris gains entry to Marguerite's home and propositions her in return for money. When she refuses, he rapes her and makes her swear she will not tell a soul. When her husband returns from war she begs him to seek vengeance for the sake of his honour. She falls pregnant and has a son.
Set Jodie Comer

[COUNT PIERRE]
Supporting Male (30 - 40) White
Count Pierre is the hedonistic lord of the land. Crass, debauched and completely amoral, his name and blood are his only noble attributes. A medieval libertine, his court is a never-ending bacchanal filled with his greatest loves; sex, wine and laughter. Unsurprisingly his finances are in disarray, and despite his no doubt noble education, he is uncultured for his class, but witty. This mischievous Count is more interested in having fun than being erudite, a quality he admires in his close friend Le
Gris.
Set Ben Affleck

[KING CHARLES VI]
Supporting Male (18 - 22) White
Role is English-speaking and although written as French, no accent is required and actors must speak fluent English without a strong accent. At this point in history, King Charles VI of France was 18, and had been under the watchful eye of his corrupt uncles since his reign began at the tender age of 11.
Infantilized by his uncles' control, he is childish, na ve, ill--informed, perhaps deliberately, and nervous to make any decisions without their guidance. Despite the divine right of his position and the respect it demands, he is simply a figurehead.
Like any over-excited child, Charles is enthralled by the duel and its drama. He revels in the entertainment without showing any comprehension or compassion for its fatal consequences,
telling his uncles 'We must do this again!'. Ironically, they didn't and this was to be the last judicial duel permitted by any French king.
Offer ALEX LAWTHER

[ADAM LOUVEL]
Supporting Male (40 - 50) White
A companion and likely underling of Jacques Le Gris, he assists Le Gris in his plot to rape Carrouges's wife, Marguerite. Extremely loyal, he never confesses to any involvement in the
alleged crime, even after being tortured.

[JEANNE DE TILLY]
Supporting Female
Jean Carrouges's first wife who dies suddenly, along with Jean's first son and heir.

[NICOLE DE CARROUGES]
Supporting Female (60 - 80)
Jean's mother. A proud woman reluctantly living out her life in a lonely country estate after her husband's post as viscount of the Fort of Bellame is not passed on to her son by Count Pierre.
[Prototype: Glenn Close]
Set Harriet Walter

[JEAN DE CARROUGES]
Supporting Male (60 - 70)
Jean's father and a knight (Jean is only a squire at the beginning of the story), who was well-respected and had a comfortable life in an important post as viscount of Bellame for 20 years.

[AGATHA]
Supporting Female (20 - 30)
Another of Marguerite's noble women. Her uptight and prudish friend. Doesn't approve of the way her friends talk and refuses to participate in their frivolity.

[MARIE]
Supporting Female (20 - 30)
Nobel woman. Confidante and best friend to Marguerite. Dealing with a pushy mother who vilifies her for not being married. Despite their close friendship, she envies Marguerite, coveting her looks, husband and status, none of which she
herself has. She is a character, with a strong personality, yet is ultimately flawed by her jealousy of Marguerite.

[CELIA]
Supporting Female (20 - 30)
Brazen, comic, sarcastic and brassy in her approach. Loves to gossip. Playful relationship with her enduring husband. Think medieval housewife of Beverley Hills.