The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan

The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2023 (2023)
Founder	Martin Bourboulon (director), Dimitri Rassam (producer)
Headquarters	France, Germany, Spain, Belgium
Products	Film series: The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers: Milady
Number of employees	Ensemble cast including François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, Louis Garrel

The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan (, known in the United States as The Three Musketeers – Part I: D'Artagnan) is a 2023 grand-scale action-adventure motion picture helmed by director Martin Bourboulon. It is based on the 1844 classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. The ensemble cast features François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, and Louis Garrel.

Distributed by Pathé Distribution in France on April 5, 2023, this film marks the initial installment of a two-part series, with its follow-up, The Three Musketeers: Milady, released on December 13, 2023. A collaborative production between France, Germany, Spain, and Belgium, the combined budget reached €72 million (approximately US$78 million), splitting roughly €36 million per film. This made it the second priciest French production for 2023. Filming took place consecutively over 150 days from August 2021 through June 2022.

Critics generally responded favorably to the movie, which also achieved commercial success in France. It ranked as the third top-grossing French film domestically in 2023, fifth among French films internationally, and eighth overall in the French box office for that year. The film sold upwards of 3.4 million tickets within France and exceeded 1.6 million admissions abroad. Additionally, it received six nominations at the 49th César Awards.

Plot

While traveling to Paris with the intention of joining the Musketeers of the Guard, young Gascon nobleman D'Artagnan narrowly escapes death when attempting to prevent the abduction of a noblewoman. Upon arrival in Paris, he visits Capitaine de Tréville, leader of the musketeers, who advises him to pursue a military career. Through a window, D'Artagnan catches sight of one assailant and rushes out, accidentally offending three musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Each demands a duel scheduled for the same day.

As preparations unfold, D'Artagnan discovers that Athos’ seconds are none other than Porthos and Aramis, who are taken aback by his challenge. During their duel, guards loyal to Cardinal Richelieu intervene to arrest them for illegal fighting. Despite being outnumbered, the four men prevail. Nevertheless, King Louis XIII reprimands them and warns that any future dueling will result in imprisonment.

D'Artagnan forms a bond with the Three Musketeers and learns that Porthos is bisexual. He becomes romantically involved with Constance Bonacieux, an attendant to Queen Anne, who is secretly connected with English nobleman Duke of Buckingham. Cardinal Richelieu schemes to expose this liaison in order to bring about the queen’s disgrace.

The king’s advisors and his brother Gaston advocate for war against Protestant insurgents at La Rochelle, but Louis XIII refuses due to previous religious conflicts.

A young woman is discovered murdered in Athos’ bed; he is wrongfully accused and condemned to death. D'Artagnan recognizes her as the same woman he had tried to rescue earlier. To prove Athos’ innocence, they investigate her background. At the House of Valcour, D'Artagnan encounters Milady disguised as a relative. Upon realizing her deceit, Milady attempts to kill him; however, he manages to escape.

Athos is liberated en route to execution by his brother Benjamin along with rebel allies.

The king presents diamonds to Queen Anne; she passes them on to Buckingham. Rumors circulate, prompting the king to insist she wear them at Gaston's wedding. Constance sends D'Artagnan to retrieve them from Buckingham. Milady steals the diamonds but after a pursuit, D'Artagnan recovers them; Milady escapes by leaping off a cliff. The jewels restore the queen’s reputation.

During Gaston’s wedding, conspirators allied with Protestant rebels attempt an assassination on the king. The musketeers foil their plan; Athos receives a pardon and D'Artagnan is promoted to lieutenant.

The film concludes with D'Artagnan rendered unconscious while trying to prevent Constance’s kidnapping.

In a mid-credits scene, Milady reports back to Cardinal Richelieu about how her mission was disrupted by the musketeers.

Cast

• François Civil portrays D'Artagnan
• Vincent Cassel appears as Athos
• Romain Duris takes on the role of Aramis
• Pio Marmaï plays Porthos
• Eva Green embodies Milady de Winter
• Lyna Khoudri acts as Constance Bonacieux
• Louis Garrel represents King Louis XIII
• Vicky Krieps features as Anne of Austria
• Jacob Fortune-Lloyd assumes the role of Duke of Buckingham
• Éric Ruf portrays Cardinal Richelieu
• Dominique Valadié plays Marie de Médicis
• Julien Frison depicts Gaston, Duke of Orléans
• Thibault Vinçon appears as Horace Saint Blancard, leader of the Huguenot rebellions
• Marc Barbé acts as Captain de Tréville
• Alexis Michalik takes on Villeneuve de Radis
• Patrick Mille plays Count de Chalais
• Ivan Franek appears as Ardanza
• Nicolas Vaude is cast as the judge
• Charlotte Ranson portrays Isabelle de Valcour

Development

The initiative commenced in 2019 when producer Dimitri Rassam sought a captivating narrative and chose Alexandre Dumas's 1844 novel The Three Musketeers. In December that year, Rassam connected with director Martin Bourboulon, who reminisced about his childhood visit to the set of the 1994 film Revenge of the Musketeers, produced by his father. With Bourboulon's approval, Rassam brought on board screenwriters Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, who promptly joined the endeavor.

On 13 May 2020, a pivotal meeting with Pathé Films' president Ardavan Safaee endorsed a 60-page storyboard crafted by the screenwriters, initiating preparations for the film despite the script still being incomplete. The writers intended to reinterpret Dumas' tale as "a thriller set in a brutal environment," while Rassam framed the project as "an answer to American franchises."

By 29 June 2020, Pathé CEO Jérôme Seydoux publicly confirmed the studio’s plans to adapt the novel. The screenplay underwent development throughout summer 2020. On 14 October, Pathé revealed that the film would be divided into two installments: D'Artagnan and Milady, both helmed by Bourboulon with scripts by Delaporte and La Patellière. Principal photography was scheduled for summer 2021 in France over a seven-month period, aiming for releases in 2023.

The production was led by Dimitri Rassam's Chapter 2 (a Mediawan Company) alongside Pathé, with co-production support from France’s M6 Films, Germany’s Constantin Film, Spain’s DeAPlaneta, and Belgium’s Umedia. The overall budget amounted to €72 million (equivalent to US$78.2 million in 2023), nearly equally divided between the two films (€36.08 million allocated to D'Artagnan and €36.16 million for Milady), positioning it as the second most costly French film production of 2023 after Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie (€80 million). Guillaume Roussel composed the musical score.

This project represents the first French cinematic adaptation of The Three Musketeers in over six decades since Bernard Borderie’s two-part series released in 1961.

Director Bourboulon cited a range of influences including The Duellists (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Cyrano de Bergerac (1990), La Reine Margot (1994), Gladiator (2000), Elephant (2003), along with more recent works such as The Revenant (2015).

Pre-production

On 11 February 2021, Variety revealed the ensemble cast, featuring François Civil as D'Artagnan, Eva Green portraying Milady de Winter, Vincent Cassel as Athos, Pio Marmaï in the role of Porthos, Romain Duris as Aramis, Lyna Khoudri playing Constance Bonacieux, Louis Garrel as King Louis XIII, Vicky Krieps as Anne of Austria, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen cast as the Duke of Buckingham. In the same month, M6, OCS, and Canal Plus secured pre-purchase rights to the saga. Pathé undertook theatrical distribution in France and managed international sales.

On 23 November 2021, Pathé announced the scheduled release dates for both installments: D'Artagnan set for 5 April 2023 and Milady slated for 13 December 2023. The full cast was disclosed at that time, including Ralph Amoussou as Hannibal, Éric Ruf taking on Cardinal Richelieu, Marc Barbé as Captain de Tréville, Patrick Mille portraying The Count of Chalais, with Jacob Fortune-Lloyd replacing Oliver Jackson-Cohen in the role of the Duke of Buckingham.

Director Martin Bourboulon and producer Dimitri Rassam had a definitive shortlist for the musketeers roles; all four actors they approached accepted without hesitation. François Civil was their top pick and the first actor confirmed. Playing D'Artagnan had been a lifelong aspiration for Civil. When Rassam invited him to discuss the project early in 2020, Civil dedicated himself fully—transforming his look and rapidly studying the novel—to secure the part. Rassam affirmed that Civil's commitment and embodiment of the character’s flair were decisive factors for his casting. Although Civil only completed reading the novel during the COVID-19 lockdown, he had been acquainted with the story since childhood.

Éric Ruf, cast here as Cardinal Richelieu, previously portrayed Aramis in the 2004 film Milady and the Three Musketeers. Vincent Cassel also brought familial connections to this franchise: his father Jean-Pierre Cassel played King Louis XIII in the 1973 adaptation and starred as D'Artagnan in a 1964 production.

Bourboulon and Rassam aimed to inject contemporary elements and emphasize strong female roles. Eva Green was selected to embody Milady due to her enigmatic presence; Cassel had recommended her before they collaborated on their Apple TV+ series Liaison. To perform her part effectively, Green overcame a fear of horses with assistance from trainer Mario Luraschi.

This version introduces Hannibal (played by Ralph Amoussou), inspired by Aniaba—the prince of Assinie and recognized as France's first black musketeer. Porthos (portrayed by Pio Marmaï) is depicted as bisexual; Marmaï gained approximately 10 kilograms to prepare for this role.

The musketeers initially bonded during fencing sessions led by Olympic épée champion Yannick Borel. After six months of rigorous training in fencing, swordsmanship, and horseback riding under Borel’s guidance and stunt coordinators Dominique and Sébastien Fouassier, Civil performed about 90% of his own stunts. Despite sustaining injuries—including a temporary eye injury on set and a broken foot during filming—he completed all his scenes.

Civil advocated updating D'Artagnan’s romantic pursuit of Constance Bonacieux by incorporating greater respect into their dynamic; consequently, relevant scenes were rewritten. He stressed that while preserving D'Artagnan’s charm and panache, the character avoids coming across as "overbearing," aligning with modern views on consent.

Initially reluctant to feature the musketeers’ signature feathered hats—fearing they would appear outdated—director Bourboulon was eventually convinced by costume designer Thierry Delettre to include them. The production refrained from using digital effects except for minor background edits to remove contemporary objects such as bus shelters or parking meters.

Filming

The two movies were filmed consecutively over a span of 150 days at various locations across France, featuring iconic sites such as the Louvre Palace, Hôtel des Invalides, Fontainebleau and Saint-Germain-en-Laye castles, Fort-la-Latte, Chantilly, the Saint-Malo citadel, and the historic district of Troyes. Production commenced on 16 August 2021 and concluded on 3 June 2022 at Farcheville castle. The shoot involved an extensive team comprising 930 crew members, 9,000 extras, 650 horses, and a wardrobe of 2,000 costumes.

Marketing

The initial promotional still was unveiled on 2 September 2021. On 19 April 2022, the French publication Première showcased the principal cast (François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, and Eva Green) on two separate covers. Additional images highlighting characters D'Artagnan, Athos, and Milady were released on 5 May 2022.

At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Pathé and Chapter 2 presented a 15-minute promotional reel. A teaser trailer along with the official poster were launched on 5 December 2022, followed by the full trailer on 15 February 2023. Character-specific posters were made public on 15 March 2023.

Unifrance introduced a new trailer featuring English subtitles on 20 March 2023.

Soundtrack

Guillaume Roussel composed the film’s official score, which was distributed by Milan Records on 5 April 2023.

Release

The film debuted in French cinemas through Pathé on 5 April 2023, with concurrent releases in Belgium (Alternative Films), Germany (Constantin Film) on 13 April, and Spain (DeAPlaneta) on 14 April. It was screened in premium formats such as IMAX, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema.

On 15 June 2023, Variety reported that Samuel Goldwyn Films secured US distribution rights for both this installment and its follow-up, Milady, scheduling theatrical releases in the United States for December 2023 and 2024 respectively. The US version, titled The Three Musketeers – Part I: D'Artagnan, will also be accessible via video on demand starting from 8 December 2023.

A re-release occurred in French theaters on 6 December 2023 ahead of the sequel’s premiere.

According to Unifrance, distribution deals have been finalized in over 71 countries globally. Although not included in Unifrance’s listings, the film had a limited theatrical run in India starting on 23 June 2023 through M International Media and PEN Marudhar/PEN India Ltd.

Box office

Launching across 732 screens in France, the film debuted at second place behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, selling more than one million tickets and generating $5.6 million during its opening week. In its second weekend, it earned $16.6 million from markets spanning 21 countries worldwide, ranking ninth globally. By the third weekend, ticket sales in France reached two million while global earnings hit $24 million from releases in thirty markets. By its sixth weekend domestically, over three million tickets had been sold, placing it fourth at the French box office.

By April 2023, international ticket sales outside France exceeded 1.36 million across forty territories. It opened at number three in Poland with an audience of around 47,000 during its debut weekend. By May, it ranked as the third highest-grossing French film internationally for that year with revenue surpassing €8.3 million and ticket sales totaling approximately 1.54 million.

The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan secured the position of third top-grossing French film within France for 2023, eighth overall domestically, and fifth internationally. After twenty-two weeks in release, it had sold over 3.4 million tickets in France and an additional 1.65 million abroad from fifty-eight markets combined. Latin America represented roughly one-third of international admissions including figures such as 378,000 viewers in Mexico, 106,000 in Brazil, and 57,000 in Colombia. The film’s international box office totaled €9.10 million outside France and $35 million worldwide.

Streaming audience

The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan secured a position among the top 10 most viewed non-English titles worldwide on Netflix following its release in Central and South America in late November 2023. It achieved third place in both Argentina and Uruguay, while ranking fourth in Peru. From 27 November to 3 December 2023, the movie garnered 1.7 million Netflix views and featured within the top 10 across 17 Latin American nations, excluding Brazil.

Critical reception

Overall, the film was met with positive acclaim. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 98% approval rating based on 51 critiques, with an average of 7.50/10, described as a "gallant reinterpretation" of the original story. Metacritic assigned it a score of 79 out of 100 from 10 reviewers, reflecting "generally favorable reviews." The French website AlloCiné gave it a rating of 3.7 out of 5 from 37 assessments.

The Guardian included The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan among the standout films of 2023. Fabrice Leclerc from Paris Match awarded it four stars, commending its mix of adventure, thriller elements, and humor, supported by a talented ensemble. Maroussia Dubreuil of Le Monde rated it three stars, emphasizing the film’s feminist depiction of its female characters Milady and Mademoiselle Bonacieux. Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian also gave four stars, describing it as a "lavishly produced, highly enjoyable innocent pleasure."

Awards and nominations

Award	Ceremony date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome
César Awards	23 February 2024	Best Cinematography	Nicolas Bolduc	Template:Nom
		Best Sound	David Rit, Gwennolé Le Borgne, Olivier Touche, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta	Template:Nom
		Best Original Music	Guillaume Roussel	Template:Nom
		Best Costume Design	Thierry Delettre	Template:Nom
		Best Production Design	Stéphane Taillasson	Template:Won
		Best Visual Effects	Olivier Cauwet	Template:Nom
Paris Film Critics Awards	4 February 2024	Best Adapted Screenplay	Alexandre de La Patellière and Mathieu Delaporte	Template:Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Louis Garrel	Template:Nominated
		Best Production Design	Stéphane Taillasson	Template:Nominated
		Best Costume Design	Thierry Delettre	Template:Won

Spin-off Television Series

On 21 October 2022, Pathé in collaboration with Chapter 2 revealed plans to develop two new television spin-offs titled Milady Origins and Black Musketeer, thereby broadening their range of franchise offerings.