Milady: Did Hannibal the Musketeer really exist?

In theaters from Wednesday, December 13, 2023, “The Three Musketeers: Milady” presents – like the first part of d’Artagnan – a more modern retelling of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas.

As director Martin Bourboulon told us when D’Artagnan was released, “We wanted to make things as plausible, realistic and honest as possible. They have the dynamic of superheroes because they are brave, overcome obstacles and are not afraid of much. But I didn’t want to give them superpowers“.

But is it a modern retelling before inventing new characters? And in this particular case, the Black Musketeer named Hannibal, played by Ralph Amousou? The existence of this character may interest you.

The character of Hannibal does not appear in Alexandre Dumas’ books that were made into films, but he is inspired by a character in another novel by Frédéric Couderc. Ebony PrincePublished in 2003 by Presses de la Renaissance, as indicated The film’s Wikipedia page.

“After more than two centuries of oblivion, Prince Ebene reveals the existence of Anyaba, a young prince from Africa who became Louis XIV’s “godfather” at his baptism by Bossuet. The first black musketeer in European history (and the first black officer in the French army), Aniaba fought as his double Hannibal (but in Flanders) before he was lost in Africa.“

That’s why Hannibal is inspired by a real-life character named Aniyaba.

According to historians, his life was first reported by an anonymous writer in a novel published in 1740. After re-emerging in the work of the historian Henriette Diabate in 1975, it is the subject of a play by his compatriot Anoma. Kanye two years later. We will have to wait for Frédéric Couderc’s book in 2003 for his fate to fascinate a new generation.n”, indicate our colleagues TF1 information.

In the film’s press kit, screenwriters Alexandre de la Patellier and Mathieu Delaporte say more about giving themselves leeway compared to Dumas’ original novel.

“The paradox is that this novel is very long, but there are few scenes of the musketeers gathering together. Milady comes too late in the story. We decided to change the narrative to make it more relevant or to justify the arrival of the Duke of Buckingham in Paris.They explain, for example, the plot about Milady at the center of the second part, which is currently in cinemas.

We’ve covered a lot about the characters who inspired Dumas

“This story is based on the possible start of a new war of religion. No one embodies that, though, because we’re still in the Catholic camp. Protestants had to exist to prevent this phantom threat.

That’s why we gave flesh to the characters, who are only hollow in the novel. We were in great devotion to the Spirit when we allowed ourselves important inventions“, they continue.

Mathieu Delaporte clarifies:We did a lot of research on the people who inspired Dumas. We made changes, making Athos a Protestant and Porthos a character freed from all conventions. We have reworked the mythology of Milad and its history.”

and added: “Dumas leaves large holes in the novel. We had to flesh out the characters and make it clear that Milady is not inherently evil, but that her hatred is motivated.

Dumas recounts a lifetime of mistreatment with this violent spy who is the Angel of Death. She was always stifled by the power of men, who pushed her to protect herself.”

Who plays Hannibal?

Ralf Amousso, most recently seen in the TV series The Divide, is played by Iris Bray (France TV Slash) as Hannibal. A fan of period fiction, he recently starred as Paul Canjo in the Netflix original production Transatlantique, which takes us to Marseille at the start of World War II as resistance fighters try to help more than 2,000 refugees. German invasion.

We could also see him in the Netflix series Marianne, in which he plays Seb, a childhood friend of Emma, ​​the protagonist played by Victoire Du Bois.

The Three Musketeers Milady is currently in cinemas, with Eva Green, Francois Civil, Romain Dury, Vincent Cassel and Pio Marmay.