The Last Duel: is it a true story, trailer, who was Jean de Carrouges – and who stars with Jodie Comer?

The first trailer for Sir Ridley Scott's upcoming historical epic The Last Duel has been released.

The two minute clip gives viewers a first look at the new movie, which had been in production for around a month before it was shut down by the first wave of coronavirus restrictions in Ireland last year.

The stars of the film were then pictured wearing face coverings on set when filming resumed.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

Is it a true story??

The film is based on Based on the book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager, which covers the real life events of the last officially recognised judicial duel fought in France

The Last Duel is set in 14th century France, and sees Matt Damon stars as Jean de Carrouges, a French knight who governed estates in Normandy, who is ordered to settle a dispute with friend and squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver).

Carrouges had accused Le Gris of sexually assaulting his wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer), and whichever combatant was still alive at the end of the duel would be declared the winner as a sign of God's will.

The historical tale has become an important cultural legend in France in the centuries since, and the guilt or innocence of its participants has been a source of great debate among historians.

The Last Duel’s script was penned by Damon and Ben Affleck – who previously won an Oscar for their Good Will Hunting screenplay – alongside screenwriter Nicole Holofcener, who received an Academy Award nomination for Adapted Screenplay in 2019 for the film Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Who stars in it?

Jodie Comer said she had “mixed emotions” after wrapping filming on Sir Ridley’s historical epic; the Liverpool-born star of Killing Eve will appear in the blockbuster alongside Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck.

Comer admitted to being torn after finishing shooting, writing on Instagram: “Ecstatic to have finished this movie given the circumstances, yet beyond sad to say goodbye to the most wonderful people.

“Thank you so much to the entire cast and crew,” Comer added.

The Last Duel was the film Matt Damon was working on when he was caught out by the first wave of coronavirus lockdowns and forced into quarantine with his family while staying in Dublin.

Damon described living in Ireland with his wife and three of their four children as like being in a “fairy tale” in an interview with local radio station Spin 1038.

Describing lockdown life in Dublin, the actor said: “It’s incredible. This is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been.

“Obviously what’s going on in the world is horrible, but I’m with my whole family, I’ve got my kid,” Damon added, explaining that the family had “actual live human beings” teaching his children, a “gorgeous” setup for which the star felt “guilty”. teaching” our kids.

“Even in the lockdown, they’re like, ‘you got to stay within two kilometres of your house’. Two kilometres here, there’s trees and forests and woods and ocean and I can’t think of any place you’d rather want to be in a two-kilometre radius of.

“It feels a bit, you know, like a fairy tale here.”

The film also stars Ben Affleck, Dame Harriet Walter and Nathaniel Parker.

When can I watch it?

The Last Duel was originally set to be released in December 2020 before the pandemic upended the Hollywood release calendar.

It is now set to arrive in cinemas on Friday 15 October 2021.