Bella Ramsey to Lead Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Joan of Arc’?

Last year, Deadline confirmed Baz Luhrmann’s next film would be titled “Jehanne d’Arc,” which was the original French name of Joan of Arc. Warner Bros are set to handle distribution. Casting for the movie is currently in progress.

Daniel RPK is reporting that Bella Ramsey has been offered, and is interested in the lead role of Joan of Arc. Ramsey is of course known for HBO’s “The “Last of Us,” and “Game of Thrones.”

Luhrmann’s film is being called “an epic story about Joan of Arc, the young French peasant who believed God had sent her to lead an army. She believed she would save her country during the Hundred Years War.

Joan of Arc’s story has appeared in numerous film adaptations, though Carl Theodor Dreyer’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” featuring Maria Falconetti’s all-timer performance, is widely regarded as the most powerful portrayal. Directors such as Roberto Rossellini, Victor Fleming, Luc Besson, and more recently Bruno Dumont, have also brought Joan’s story to the big screen.

I haven’t heard of a production start date for “Jehanne d’Arc,” but Luhrmann had been scouting locations as early as this year, so maybe a shoot is fast approaching.

Luhrmann’s most recent film was the 2022 Oscar-nominated film “Elvis,” which I described as a “pop-art fever dream” dominated by Luhrmann’s usual fast cuts and Austin Butler’s strong lead performance.

Luhrmann’s filmography also includes “The Great Gatsby,” “Romeo + Juliet,” and “Strictly Ballroom.” Over the span of 33 years, he has directed just six movies. In 2023, he released a director’s cut of his 2008 film “Australia,” via Hulu streaming, reimagined as a six-episode series titled “Faraway Downs.” Despite the new format, critics responded with reviews similar to those for the original theatrical release.