"The Count Of Monte-Cristo" Earns Nearly 12-Minute Ovation at Cannes

Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière’s three-hour French epic "The Count Of Monte-Cristo" had its world premiere screening Out of Competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night, receiving an enthusiastic nearly 12 minutes of applause.

This latest adaptation based on the classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas stars Pierre Niney, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Pierfrancesco Favino (also a member of the Cannes jury this year), Anamaria Vartolomei and Bastien Bouillon — all of whom were in attendance for the premiere.

It tells the story of Edmond Dantes (Niney), a young man who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d’If, he manages a daring escape. Now rich beyond his dreams, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte-Cristo and exacts his revenge on the three men who betrayed him.

Delaporte and de la Patellière co-wrote the script after collaborating on 2023’s two-part Dumas adaptation "The Three Musketeers".

Samuel Goldwyn Films acquired U.S. rights to "The Count of Monte-Cristo" ahead of its premiere here in Cannes, and will release later this year. 

The distributor also released "The Three Musketeers". Pathé will give "The Count of Monte-Cristo" a wide release in French theaters on June 28.