The star-studded The Last Duel cast helps to bring the powerful medieval tale to life. From Oscar-winners to blockbuster stars to up-and-coming talents to character actors, there are a strong collection of actors to fill out these historical roles in Ridley Scott's period action movie. Though The Last Duel was considered a box office bomb, it received strong reviews and is already being reexamined as an underrated gem. The Last Duel cast has a lot to do with that acclaim.
Based on a book of the same title by Eric Jager, The Last Duel tells the 14th-century story of French knight Jean de Carrogues and his wife, Marguerite. When Marguerite accuses de Carrogues’ rival, Jacques le Gris, of rape, de Carrogues challenges his former friend to a duel. Historically, the duel was the last officially recognized judicial duel in France, at a time when the outcome of a duel was taken as a sign of God’s will. The film boasts an incredibly talented cast, featuring both Hollywood stars and British performers of the stage and screen. The Last Duel cast is a small one but an incredibly effective one.
Matt Damon as Sir Jean de Carrouges
One of the biggest stars of the last 30 years, Damon stars Jean de Carrouges, the French knight whose wife accuses his friend, Jacques le Gris, of rape. This leads him to challenge le Gris to a duel to the death. In de Carrouges own recounting of the event, he is a brave knight and seeks to preserve his wife's honor. However, her telling of the story paints him as a selfish man looking to protect his own honor.
Damon’s breakout performance was playing the titular role in Good Will Hunting, the film for which he and close friend Ben Affleck also wrote the screenplay. Damon has been in the films of great directors such as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, again as the titular character, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy as Linus Caldwell, and as Sergeant Colin Sullivan in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. This is his second film with Scott following his role as Mark Watney in The Martian. Most recently, he re-teamed with Affleck for the sports drama Air.
Adam Driver as Jacques le Gris
Adam Driver plays opposite Damon as Jacques le Gris, the knight accused of raping de Carrouges’ wife. Formerly de Carrouges' close friend, their relationship turned into a rivalry as their fortunes changed. Insulted by the accusation, le Gris accepts the duel in the hopes of clearing his name. Le Gris maintains his innocence through it all, but Marguerite's truthful recount of the incident shows he gave no thought to her consent.
Like Damon, Driver has also worked with the best directors in Hollywood, including roles as Samuel Beckwith in Spielberg’s Lincoln and Clyde Logan in Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky. He is perhaps best known for playing Kylo Ren in the recent Star Wars trilogy, the role that made him a household name. He recently starred in the sci-fi movie 65 and will star in Francis Ford Coppola's epic Megalopolis.
Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges
Jodie Comer is the third corner on the main cast triangle, playing Marguerite de Carrouges, Jean’s wife. The outcome of the duel also affects Marguerite’s life, as a win for le Gris would result in her being burnt at the stake for making a false accusation. Though all three main characters have their own perspectives of the events represented in the story, the movie implies Marguerite's version is the truth.
Comer's performance was highlighted as the standout of the cast by many critics and she earned several critics choice nominations and awards for The Last Duel. Comer found fame as assassin Villanelle in the popular TV show Killing Eve. Her first major tentpole film role came earlier in 2021 as Ryan Reynold’s love interest, Millie Rusk, in the action-comedy Free Guy. She will next be seen in The Bikeriders alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hardy.
The Last Duel's Supporting Cast & Characters
Harriet Walter as Nicole de Buchard - Jean de Carrouges' judgmental, uptight widower mother. Walter has had a long career and can be recognized for her roles as Fanny Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, Emily Tallis in Atonement, and recurring television roles as Lady Shackleton in Downton Abbey and Lady Caroline Collingwood in Succession.
Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d'Alençon - The rakish count that both Jean and Jacques are sworn to. Though Affleck was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor, many critics praised his scene-stealing role and it earned him several critics choice wins. The longtime friend of Damon’s and star in his own right, Affleck is best known for his roles as Rafe McCawley in Pearl Harbor, Tony Mendez in Argo (which he also directed), Nick Dunne in Gone Girl, and Batman in the Snyderverse.
Nathaniel Parker as Sir Robert de Thibouville - Marguerite's father and a disgraced nobleman. Parker played Master Edward Gracey in the Haunted Mansion and Caspian IX in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Zoe Bruneau as Marie Chamallart - Marguerite's close friend. After starring in several French films, The Last Duel is Bruneau’s first role in an English language film.
Alex Lawther as King Charles VI - The young King of France. Lawther can be recognized for his role as young Alan Turing in The Imitiation Game and young Christopher Robin Milne in Goodbye Christopher Robin. He also appeared in season 1 of Andor as Karis Nemik.
Adam Nagaitis as Adam Louvel - Jacques de Gris's squire who aids him in his liaisons. Nagaitis is known for his role as Vasily Ignatenko in Chernobyl.
