Motor, action ! Ridley Scott and Wes Anderson chose Nouvelle-Aquitaine for their latest films

20 November 2020

Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a vast territory with countless assets and is now more than ever the perfect backdrop for film-makers.

This magnificent region of southwest France boasts a kaleidoscope of remarkable sights with breathtaking landscapes, ranging from the famous Bordeaux vineyards to the splendid Pyrenees, the Dordogne valley, the peaceful Millevaches Plateau, the mysterious Marais-Poitevin, this islands of Ré and Oléron and the picturesque Pays Basque. Its array of natural and architectural gems attract many film-makers.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine has the second largest film-making budget, just after Paris. It supports many projects and hosts numerous festivals.

Zoom on 2 American films, eagerly expected by fans, shot recently in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The Last Duel

Adapted from an Eric Jager novel published in 2004 by Random House, the film « The Last Duel » directed by Ridley Scott boasts a 4-star cast : Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver…

The film tells the story of the fatal confrontation between a Norman knight and his best friend, whom his wife accuses of rape. In addition to epic battle scenes, the film also depicts the oppressive culture of the Middle Ages.

The Last Duel is our region’s very first major production. Shooting began on February 14, 2020 in the Dordogne area, near Sarlat-la-Canéda. Château de Beynac, Château de Fénelon (for outdoor scenes) and Place des Cornières in Monazier were all part of the backdrops used by the Ridley Scott, as they also featured in the two last scenes from his first film, over 40 years ago, “The Duellists”.

Director : Ridley Scott
Expected release date in the USA : 15 October 2021
Genre : Historical drama
Distribution : The Walt Disney Company France
Cast : Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”…)…

>> Further information about the Dordogne Valley destination, where the film was shot.

The French Dispatch

"The French Dispatch" is a new film by Wes Anderson, who also directed "Grand Budapest hôtel". The film was shot between November 2018 and the spring of 2019, in Angoulême. Its dream cast includes famous actors such as Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Tilda Swinton, Kate Winslet, Léa Seydoux…

The film features a collection of stories from the latest issue of an American magazine published in the fictional 20th century French town of “Ennui-sur-Blasé (Boredom-upon-Jaded).  

Indeed, Wes Anderson fell for Angoulême, France’s comic book capital, and found it the perfect backdrop for his reconstitution of France in the 1950s/60s.   

Director : Wes Anderson
Expected release date in the USA: 21 October 2021  
Genre : Comedy-drama
Distribution : Searchlight Pictures (USA), The Walt Disney Company France
Cast : Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Tilda Swinton, Kate Winslet, Owen Wilson, Mathieu Amalric, Léa Seydoux…

>> Further information about the Angoulême destination, where the film was shot.