‘Killing Eve’ Emmy Winner Jodie Comer Is Circling Ridley Scott’s ‘The Last Duel’
By Hoai-Tran Bui/Sept. 26, 2019 3:30 pm EST
Variety reports that Comer is in talks to star alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the revenge drama The Last Duel under Disney-Fox. Affleck and Damon are co-writing the script with the Oscar-nominated Nicole Holofcener (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Ridley Scott is set to direct the film adaptation of Eric Jager’s book about the last officially recognized judicial duel fought in France.
Here is the synopsis via Variety:
Comer would play the lead female role, who is disbelieved when she accuses Jacques Le Gris of raping her. Her husband, Jean de Carrouges, returns from war and decides to appeal to the king of France to fight a duel to the death with Le Gris. Though it’s based on real events, a film that prominently features sexual assault is still a touchy subject in the aftermath of the Me Too movement, especially with Damon and Affleck — the former of which has proven to be somewhat tactless when it comes to these issues — heavily involved. The role is also a bit of a step down for Comer after playing such a compelling antiheroine as Villanelle in Killing Eve. Her role doesn’t appear to have much more to it other than being the victimized wife, and even worse, Jager’s book describes that Marguerite de Carrouges would’ve been burned at the sake as punishment for her false accusation if her husband lost the duel.
“The Last Duel” is set in 14th century France and follows a man who goes to war and returns to discover a friend of his has raped his wife (portrayed by Comer). No one will believe the woman, and the soldier appeals to the king of France and says he wants to fight a duel to the death to decide the man’s fate, becoming the last legally sanctioned duel in France.
Damon and Affleck are producing the film alongside Scott and his filmmaking partner Kevin Walsh. Drew Vinton is also producing for Pearl Street Films, and Madison Ainsley will executive produce.
