With the success of SHERLOCK HOLMES and the probable success of ROBIN HOOD, another classic band of heroes is being resurrected for the big screen. HOLMES producer Lionel Wigram is starting to collect ingredients for a THREE MUSKETEERS movie, and he’s already hired THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS writer, Peter Straughan, to draft a script.
Before they became best known for being a delicious candy bar, the Musketeers were a band of 17th century swordsmen out to thwart the dreaded Cardinal Richelieu with a distinct habit of high-fiving each other with their swords. Their leader is D’Artagnan and the Musketeers themselves are his crew, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, so really, there’s four of them. I feel like there’s a Jeopardy question in there somewhere.
In a world filled with board games and toys getting their own franchises, it almost seems refreshing to get a film based on classic literature for a change, even if it’s still nothing near an original idea. I think a project like this could be pretty cool, but the dynamic between the actors will be what makes or breaks the movie, and casting a good Musketeers crew will be extremely important, as it’s not just a pair that needs to jive together, but a foursome.