The Three Musketeers, the classic by Alexandre Dumas, returns to the big screen in a new and ambitious French blockbuster directed by Martin Bourboulon (El papa o la mama, Eiffel) and divided into two parts. The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan premieres today and in December comes The Three Musketeers: Milady. Both were filmed simultaneously in an intense seven-month shoot that began in the summer of 2021.
Gallic actress Eva Green takes on the role of Milady de Winter, Cardinal Richelieu's stealthy spy in a mysterious role that fits her like a ring on her finger. Accompanied by François Civil in the skin of a sympathetic D'Artagnan, Vincent Cassel as Athos, Romain Duris as Aramis and Pio Marmaï in the corpulent Porthos, the performer of Casino Royale and Próxima defends a femme fatale capable of evaporating- known as a ghost in the most complicated situations and who has previously been brought to life by actresses such as Lana Turner, Faye Dunaway, Milla Jovovich or Rebecca de Mornay.
What attracted you to this story to want to be part of it?
Milady is such an iconic and intimidating character that when I read the script I fell madly in love with the complexity of this woman. She's obviously evil and manipulative, but I was really interested in the fact that the writers explored a never-before-seen version of her in the second part where you see her humanity and understand why she behaves the way she does behaves We always think of her as a psychopath, but I don't see her that way in this version. The truth is that she was betrayed in the past and there are very deep wounds that explain who she is. She is actually a great feminist way ahead of her time, a free and independent warrior who doesn't care about conventions. It also keeps many secrets and that is a very interesting thing. He is driven by the desire for revenge, but underneath all these layers he wears is someone fragile.
The character requires being in good shape. How did you prepare physically?
Well, yes, it was something very stimulating. I was training for seven weeks with a team of specialists for the second film in which Milady does a lot of sword and dagger fighting, all very physical. It's not that she's a strong built woman, but she's very agile and quick and I felt her inner strength while doing all those choreographies.
She usually plays strong women who, despite the problems, find a way to get what they want. Do you think we need more papers of this kind?
Milady is a very modern and extremely feminine 17th century character. I love that she is such a strong woman and I appreciate that the costume designers allowed me to wear pants under the wonderful dresses, ready to fight. Milady has her life in her hands, she doesn't depend on any man or anyone. And I love that. I think there are more and more female roles like that. Women who have the power and at the same time are vulnerable, multidimensional. We are going in the right direction.
What do you think this new film version can offer the public?
When they told me there was going to be a new version, I thought 'Oh, really? Another version of The Three Musketeers?', but when I started reading the script I immediately realized that the material was different, much darker. The characters are more human, complex, really flesh and blood, and there is more humor. I think the public will feel much more identified with it. In a way they are like superheroes, they are not afraid of death. They fight for their country, the action scenes are very impressive and that is why it is a very desirable adventure film.
Speaking of heroes, who were yours as a child?
I don't remember... Mary Poppins? Now I would say Greta Thunberg. I admire brave people who do and fight for the things they believe in.
When was the first time you read Dumas's novel and what did you think of it?
That was a long time ago [laughs]. I think he must have been about ten years old. Dumas is like the Spielberg of French literature. His novels are full of passion, romance, danger and emotion. So when you read them you immerse yourself in a different world. It is an iconic novel in France and I feel privileged to be part of its universe.
He has worked on several US blockbusters, mostly with Tim Burton. What has it been like to work on a French blockbuster like this?
This film has the skeleton of a great Hollywood production. It's epic, the locations are amazing. There is not that distance that you could notice with other films of The Three Musketeers. We can really feel and vibrate with the characters. French cinema has nothing to envy to Hollywood.
You became known with The Dreamers (2003), by Bertolucci, together with Louis Garrel, who here plays King Louis XIII. How was the reunion?
Unfortunately, our characters don't have any scenes together. But when I saw him it was like time had never passed. We have a very strong bond because The Dreamers was my first film and I feel like we have a brotherly relationship. Although it had been a long time, we connected again. I adore him and he is magnificent in his role as a king, it is very touching. It gives a lot of depth to the character.
Despite Milady's evil nature, would you say she has something in common?
I don't think so [laughs]. But I wish I had your courage. She's extremely brave and that's something I really adore.
What makes you accept or not a project?
The key is the script. If I connect to it immediately I feel like I have to say yes, but I also notice the director and the cast. When I was told about the cast of this film, I knew I had to be there.
He coincides with Vincent Cassel also in the TV series Liaison and, as with The Three Musketeers, they have a complicated relationship.
It's just that humans are very complicated [laughs]. We shot the series before the movie and that helped a lot because we already knew each other. His Athos is very interesting. He's a very wounded man in the first part and I think he's a great actor. But it is easy to connect with these musketeers because there is a very strong psychology behind the characters. Milady and Athos are who they are because of what happened 20 years ago. And in December...we'll have more answers.
