Baz Luhrmann Teases Joan Of Arc Movie By Revealing Key Line from His Script

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Director Baz Luhrmann, famous for his visually stunning films, is embarking on a new project: a large-scale historical story about Joan of Arc, the French teenager. He recently shared a significant line from the movie’s script.

Joan of Arc was a remarkable young woman in French history. Born a peasant, she believed she was guided by visions and, at just 17, led French armies to important wins during the Hundred Years’ War. She played a key role in getting King Charles VII crowned, but was later captured by the English, falsely accused of heresy, and tragically burned at the stake at age 19. Twenty-five years after her death, her name was officially cleared. In 1920, the Catholic Church recognized her as a saint, and she continues to be celebrated as a national hero in France.

Baz Luhrmann discussed his plans for a new film about Joan of Arc in an interview with ScreenRant’s Todd Gilchrist. He explained how his unique filmmaking style will bring the war-torn setting and the tragic story of Joan of Arc – or Jehanne d’Arc, as she was known – to life.

ScreenRant asked about how the realistic, messy depiction of 15th-century battles fits with the show’s established visual style. They wanted to know if the upcoming season would require a change in the directing approach to accurately portray the war, or if they planned to maintain the same style.

I’ve been really fascinated by Baz Luhrmann’s recent thoughts. He’s juggling a lot of ideas right now, and it’s not just what he’s choosing to work on, but why. He feels a real responsibility to tackle projects that feel necessary, not just personally interesting. What really struck me is how he sees parallels between the past and present – he likened the seemingly endless 100-Year War to powerful people simply maintaining a conflict for their own gain. But he’s drawn to stories where young people challenge that status quo, like this historical tale of a teenage girl and a young king who dared to disrupt the established order. He believes it’s a story about generational change and bridging the gap between those with power and those without, and honestly, it feels incredibly relevant to what’s happening in the world today.

Baz Luhrmann is known for successfully updating classic tragedies for modern viewers, as he famously did with his 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. His filmmaking style is often described as visually striking and over-the-top, and he’s expected to bring that same energy to the story of Joan of Arc, focusing on her incredible journey from a common background to becoming a famous historical figure at a very young age.

During a conversation about the film, Luhrmann shared a powerful line from the Jeanne d’Arc script: “Gentle Dauphin, we’ve got to peel this world away from the knobbly old hands of these old men.” He believes this quote—about Joan of Arc challenging established authority—is a story that resonates today. The idea of a young leader stepping up to replace older figures, Luhrmann suggests, is still relevant and important now.

Isla Johnston has been cast as Joan of Arc in director Baz Luhrmann’s new, currently unnamed film, set to start filming this year. Johnston is a rising star, best known for playing young Beth Harmon in the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. This choice fits with Luhrmann’s pattern of working with actors before they become widely famous.

Baz Luhrmann is enjoying the recent success of his film Elvis, featuring Austin Butler, and is now bringing an enhanced concert experience, EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert, to 250 IMAX theaters for fans. While there’s no firm date yet, Luhrmann’s next project, Jehanne d’Arc, is currently planned for release in 2027.

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2026-02-21 16:40