Marie-Antoinette: for what improbable reason did Alain Delon refuse to play in this film?

Released in cinemas in 2006, the film Marie Antoinette, carried by Kirsten Dunst in the title role, will be rebroadcast on Sunday January 23, 2022, from 9:05 p.m. on the channel TF1 film series. Directed by Sofia Coppola, this feature film is in fact the cinematographic adaptation of the book by Antonia Fraser, Marie Antoinette, published in 2001. This book is very loosely based on the life of Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, Dauphine then Queen of France, by her marriage to the future King Louis XVI. Sofia Coppola’s film traces its existence from April 1770 to the revolution of 1789.

During filming, Kirsten Dunst replied to Jason Schwartzman, who played the role of King Louis XVI, but also to Tom Hardy, Jamie Dornan, Danny Huston, Asia Argento, Rose Byrne, Steeve Coogan, or even Rip Torn, who played the role of King Louis XV. A character who could have been embodied by a sacred monster of French cinema, in the person of Alain Delon. Indeed, Sofia Coppola had first thought of the French star of the big screen to lend her features to Louis XV. However, the actor declined this offer, after claiming that he refused to wear a wig. Alain Delon, however, informed the director that he would gladly accept to play in one of his future films, provided it takes place in contemporary times.

Marie-Antoinette: 15,000 euros per day of filming in Versailles

For the anecdote, Sofia Coppola managed to obtain special authorization from the French government, in order to be able to shoot his film in the Palace of Versailles. The filmmaker was also entitled to some privileges. For example, she could film a ballroom scene in the Hall of Mirrors, yet closed for renovation at the time. The director was also able to use the small private theater of the queen, which had only been used once in the cinema by Jean Dréville, for her film Lafayette in 1961. The production of Marie Antoinette still had to pay 15,000 euros a day in order to be able to occupy Versailles.

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