In the blink of an eye and under the worst of circumstances, good friends can become brutal enemies. Ridley Scott’s latest film, The Last Duel, tells a true story that illustrates such a sad state of affairs, as Adam Driver and Matt Damon go head to head in France’s final state-approved duel. Co-starring Ben Affleck and Jodie Comer, this tale almost sounds like something out of Game of Thrones and, based on what we’ve seen in the first trailer, it looks a lot like the HBO series as well.
Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) are a knight and squire, respectively, who happen to be pretty close. But when The Last Duel shows Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accusing Jaques of raping her, Jean challenges his former friend to a duel to the death. With more than just honor on the line, Jean and Jacques will settle their grievances in trial by combat, with God seemingly determining who’s telling the truth.
The Last Duel is a return to form of sorts for Ridley Scott, as it’s been a while since the director has shown the world combat of a bygone era. Indeed, the first look at his latest film is giving off some serious vibes from the era in which Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven saw him plying his trade. The results couldn’t look any better, as pure Scott magic fills the screen with this trailer.
It’s also nice to see Matt Damon and Ben Affleck starring in another movie together, a feat that hasn’t happened for quite some time. Even more impressive is that, alongside co-writer Nicole Holofcener, Damon and Affleck actually wrote the script for The Last Duel; something that hasn’t happened since the two penned their Academy Award-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting. So fans of the creative duo are sure to be happy about this new collaboration.
Most impressively, The Last Duel looks like a beautiful blend between Ridley Scott’s directing sensibilities and the writing talents of Nicole Holofcener, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. While the film was delayed in production thanks to 2020’s unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like the wait will truly be worth it. Not to mention, it’s just one of two films that Scott has on his docket that’ll make 2021 a fall to remember; seeing as he also has House of Gucci, which also co-stars Adam Driver, releasing not too long after.
The Last Duel hits theaters on October 15th, but you won't have to wait that long to see Matt Damon back at the box office. Damon can be next seen in Stillwater, which opens in theaters on July 30th. And if you're looking to see what else is set to hit throughout the year, check out the 2021 release schedule for more info.
