We’ve been curious what Aussie director Baz Luhrmann would attempt next after the Oscar-nominated “Elvis” biopic that saw rising talent Austin Butler nab his first Best Actor nod for playing the iconic rocknroller. Back in September, it was revealed the filmmaker would attempt a new biographical film, “Jehanne d’Arc.”
There is now a substantial update as Deadline reveals that the film has landed help on the script with playwright Ava Pickett co-writing alongside Luhrmann, and a search to find an actress to play Joan is going to be the next big hurdle for the project.
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It would focus on the historical figure Joan of Arc, a teenage girl and French war hero who helped lead the French army against the encroaching English forces in multiple bloody battles during the infamous Hundred Years’ War between the two nations. In an era when women did not participate in combat or soldiering. Only for her to be captured by the English and horrifically burned alive at the stake as a heretic and witch, as she believed that God directly spoke to her and that her mission to defeat the English was a divine one, leading to the backing of the French monarchy.
While the project doesn’t have a studio partner or deal in place, the report mentions that Warner Bros. was taken to the Chateau Marmont for a pitch that involved a reading of the script and visual presentation. Given the recent trend from WB brass Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, this sounds like it’s very much the kind of creator-driven project that could be extremely attractive, but only time will tell if they’ll bite.
Luhrmann also dished to the outlet that the two writers are being influenced by the historical Joan of Arc novel “Blood Red, Sister Rose,” written by “Schindler’s List” author Thomas Keneally.
The last big attempt to tackle the story of Joan of Arc was the Luc Besson film “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc,” which starred his then-wife and actress Milla Jovovich, a reunion after working together on the comedic and colorful sci-fi actioner “The Fifth Element.” However, what is likely considered the best-known version would be the Victor Fleming-directed film from 1948 that saw the iconic Ingrid Bergman cast as Joan.
Both those previous feature iterations had an intense visual style, which sounds perfect for a filmmaker like Luhrmann, another person who relies heavily on stylish shots and cinematography with eye-popping efforts such as “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Australia,” and “The Great Gatsby” being some examples.
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We’re also expecting a much younger actress playing Joan, in “Jehanne d’Arc,” as she is supposed to be in her teens throughout her epic story, and died at only 19.
