©Courtesy of “Life After Life” film.
British actress Isla Johnston is in early discussions to play the title role in the epic film, Jehanne d’Arc. The performer is in talks with the historical biopic’s director, Baz Luhrmann, and studio, Warner Bros, Deadline is reporting.
The Joan of Arc character in Luhrmann’s next movie is a high-interest for young actresses. The French patron saint was burned at the stake in the 1400s. She was targeted after she led troops in the Siege of Orleans. Her other accomplishments include insisting on the coronation of Charles VII as the French king during the Hundred Years’ War.
The helmer of such acclaimed films as Moulin Rouge, Elvis and Romeo & Juliet, is currently preparing Jehanne d’Arc. The preparation included narrowing the field of actresses he’s considering to cast as the eponymous character. He recently made his intentions of wanting to cast Johnston in the lead role known.
The Golden Globe-winning filmmaker wrote the script for Jehanne d’Arc with playwright Ava Pickett. The latter recently conducted the first reading of the script for most of the teams from Warner Bros, including production, marketing and publicity.
The filmmakers held the script read at the Chateau Marmont. The filmmakers read Jehanne d’Arc‘s script in the same room where filmmakers read the first draft of Rebel Without a Cause for Warner Bros executives in the 1950s. Luhrmann’s design partner, Catherine Martin, supported Pickett’s script read with a visual presentation.
Johnston is considering the offer for the role, which may become a potential career-making opportunity for her. The Artists Partnership in the UK and UTA rep 18-year-old performer. Warner Bros has not yet commented on the actress’ potential casting.
Jehanne d’Arc follows several other adaptions about the titular character. The heroine was the focus of the 1928 classic film, The Passion of Joan of Arc. She also led the Leelee Sobieski-led Canadian mini-series, Joan of Arc. Luc Besson co-scribed and helmed, and Milla Jovovich starred in, the other project. The project was a movie titled The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.
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