Baz Luhrmann Finds Young Joan for His Cinematic Reinvention of the Legend — and It’s a Brilliant Move
A fresh face steps into the armor of history.
Baz Luhrmann’s Jehanne d’Arc had been the subject of rumours for months — with casting whispers ranging from the unexpected to the outright wild, even including Bella Ramsey.
So when news broke that Isla Johnston — young Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit — is in talks to play Joan, I was both surprised and i intrigued. It seems to me her mix of youthful intensity and quiet presence is exactly what this role needs.
Warner Bros. is backing the film, based on Tom Keneally’s 1974 novel Blood Red, Sister Rose, set in the charged final years of the French saint’s life.
An Unlikely Creative Pairing
The flamboyant Luhrmann teaming with Keneally — author of Schindler’s List — is an unexpected match. With British playwright Ava Pickett, he’s shaping a dreamlike psychological portrait, far from a traditional biopic.
And if you know Luhrmann’s work (Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby), expect something vivid, emotional, and nothing like Dreyer’s austere The Passion of Joan of Arc.
Setting the Stage
Luhrmann has been immersing himself in 15th-century detail — even trying on period armour — with longtime collaborator Catherine Martin designing sets and costumes. Filming begins later this year on Australia’s Gold Coast. No release date yet, but the intent is clear: this Joan will be unlike any we’ve seen before.
