The Last Duel

The Last Duel
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117954849.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Basking in the glow of the biggest box office success of his career with "The Departed," Martin Scorsese is now taking on medieval France. Under his new deal at Paramount, Scorsese will develop with an eye to direct the bigscreen adaptation of Eric Jager's historical tome "The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France." Kevin Misher's Par-based Misher Films is producing for the studio. While it's the first feature project identified for Scorsese under the Paramount pact, "Duel" won't necessarily be his next film, say the studio and Scorsese's reps. He's currently shooting a docu on the Rolling Stones for Par. Jager's book, published by Broadway Books in 2004, tells the story of a duel that occurred in 1386 between knights Jean de Carrouges and Jacques LeGris. Duel was the last sanctioned by the French government, in this case by a young King Charles IV. Scorsese is no stranger to period pieces, having directed "Gangs of New York" and "The Age of Innocence." Under his four-year first-look deal with Paramount, Scorsese will direct and produce features, direct-to-DVD, television and digital content. He will remain based in New York, with the studio providing roughly $2.5 million in overhead annually. One unusual feature of the deal: Par has the option to co-finance and co-produce any project Scorsese does elsewhere. Scorsese was lured by Paramount chair-CEO Brad Grey, and his former agent is Par Vantage prexy John Lesher. Scorsese continues to be repped by Endeavor. Misher, who is in post production with "Case 39" for Par, also is producing "The Day I Turned Uncool: Confessions of a Reluctant Grown-Up" for the studio, among other projects. At U, he's producing "It Takes a Thief" and "Sub-Mariner."

Thanks, arnzilla :) That's a very interesting project, which I think would fit him well. I've always wanted to see him make something set in Medieval times. A bit more from Amazon: In 1386, Jean de Carrouges accused his former friend, Jacques LeGris, of raping his wife, and the young king of France allowed their dispute to be resolved in what was to be the last legally ordered judicial combat in Paris. Jager deftly blends this story with the background necessary to understand it: the ideas behind trial by combat, the realities of 14th-century marriage, the complexity of the regional and central powers in France, and the personal rivalries at court. Jager describes a harsh and violent era, when public executions were a form of entertainment and both commoners and elites eagerly anticipated the increasingly rare duel to the death. But it was also a time of lawyers, chroniclers and ceremony. Jager doesn't condescend to the people of medieval France but explains the complicated logic by which they could believe that a duel would prove guilt or innocence, pregnancy could be considered proof that sex had been consensual, and a lady could be convicted and executed as a false accuser if her champion lost. A brief history of the duel demonstrates its origins in age-old military tradition rather than divine providence. Jager acknowledges where the definitive facts of his story are unknown while presenting a riveting account that will satisfy general readers and historians alike. But why is Silence not confirmed yet?

And here's the author, Eric Jager, speaking to NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4245183 They avoid specifically mentioning the outcome of the duel, but there are a few comments that may hint at the result.

Thanks Arnzilla and Will This would be something different. It makes me think of Thelma 's description of the duel scene in Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. :lol: But why is Silence not confirmed yet? I was thinking about that myself. Do you think he still hasn't got a budget for it?

This sounds great and all... but I really hope Silence is next, then maybe this, and finally the Teddy Roosevelt bio-pic. Hopefully it will go like, Silence for 2008, The Last Duel for 2010, and Rise of Theodore Roosevelt for 2012.

I like it!!!
Grazie, Zill & will I LOVE the sound of Eric Jager's "The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France". I've got my fingers crossed! Sounds way more exciting than a Theodore Roosevelt biopic.

Scorsese
Thanks for the news about another Scorsese project. A medieval piece sounds great to me. I’m not familiar with Jager’s book so it might be something to check out. Thanks Arnz and will.

Duel sounds great... can't imagine whom he'd cast as his knight :P :P but still hope he does Silence first...

Medieval stuff? Cool! That's one thing Marty has yet to tackle. I hope it comes to be.

The Last Duel does sound fascinating. I'm sure Scorsese could do wonders with it. And once again having two lead characters to choose between its The Departed: The Dark Ages. Personally though, I hope SILENCE is next. I'd like to see what he could do with this The Last Duel, but then I'm hoping he'll follow through on his word and do some small filmmaking. At the very least I hope he never does the Teddy Roosevelt biopic. It just sounds like an Oscar Whore film to me.

Do you think he still hasn't got a budget for it? Maybe WB and Paramount are trying to work out a deal to share it. Or maybe Scorsese is trying to get actors that are well-known and that he'd like to work with. Since a budget was estimated, the script is fairly ready, so that can't be it. OneFilmLover, I'd never describe a Scorsese film as "Oscar Whore", no matter what its subject is. He could make a documentary about the history of oscars, and I 'd still consider he had pure intentions going in. The Departed should prove that if he ever did care for an oscar, he doesn't anymore.

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