Thomas Alexandre Dumas is the father of Alexandre Dumas, the author of “The Count of Monte-Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers,” and until now, the only black General of a European army and the highest-ranking Black leader in the French military. He served under Napoleon Bonaparte.
Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (also Thomas-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie, * 25 March 1762 in Jérémie, Saint-Domingue (today’s Haiti); † 26 February 1806 in Villers-Cotterêts) was a French Général de division. He was the father of Alexandre Dumas the Elder and the grandfather of Alexandre Dumas the Younger. His nickname was the Black Devil, and his name is inscribed in the 23rd column of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He took part in Napoleon’s Egyptian campaigns.
General Thomas Alexandre Dumas
The Film
The Producers of French smash hit “The Count of Monte Cristo” and Oscar-nominated “Les Misérables,” Chapter 2 and Srab Films, have set an all-star cast for Ladj Ly‘s next film, “Dumas: Black Devil.” Rising French talent Theo Christine (“Supremes”) will play the title role in the adventure epic film, starring opposite Omar Sy (“Lupin), Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan”), and Francois Civil (“Beating Hearts”).
The buzzy project will be launched by Pathé, Goodfellas, and CAA Media Finance at the upcoming Cannes film market. It’s one of the most anticipated and ambitious French films on track to go into production in 2026. Pathé, which previously handled “The Count of Monte-Cristo” and the two-part saga “The Three Musketeers” (both of which were produced by Chapter 2), will distribute the France on top of partnering with Goodfellas and CAA Media Finance on foreign sales. CAA Media Finance will also represent North America.
“Dumas: Black Devil” will be produced by Dimitri Rassam at Chapter 2, a Mediawan company, and Toufik Ayadi and Christophe Barral at Srab Films, a Fremantle company, in co-production with Lyly Films and Carrousel Studios. Library Pictures International is co-financing.
Penned by Anne Abitbol, Dan Franck (“Carlos”) and Thomas Bidegain, whose recent screenwriting credits include “Emilia Perez,” “Dumas: Black Devil” will tell the unknown true story of Thomas Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie Dumas, the son of a slave and a French noble man who defied the odds to become the first black general of the French army. He was also the father of Alexandre Dumas, the author of iconic literary works such as “The Count of Monte-Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers.” While he became the highest-ranking Black leader in the French military and served under Napoleon Bonaparte, General Dumas’ role in the French Revolution was underplayed, and Bonaparte even denied him a full pension and the Legion of Honor.
“Dumas: Black Devil” will mark the biggest project to date for Ly, who broke through in 2019 with “Les Misérables,” which won the Jury Prize at Cannes and went on to win four César Awards, as well as earned an Oscar nomination for best international feature. Ly said he was drawn to the project because “General Dumas’ life story is both powerful and deeply inspiring, a tale of courage, injustice, and resilience that deserves to be fully recognized.”
“I’m proud to bring it to the screen with an exceptional cast, whose talent and intensity will capture all the strength and humanity of these historic figures. It’s a project that carries immense emotion and urgency, and I can’t wait for audiences to discover it,” Ly said in a statement.
Dumas’ name on the Arc de Triomphe
A history buff
A history buff, Rassam said, “The revolutionary life of Thomas Alexandre Dumas deserved a treatment as heroic, powerful and moving as what our writers Anne Abitbol, Dan Franck and Thomas Bidegain have penned together under the stewardship of Ladj’s vision.”
“Together with Pathé we feel a great deal of gratitude and responsibility towards the extraordinary work of his son Alexandre Dumas and I can’t think of a better way to honor him than assembling this amazing team,” he said, point out that “Dumas: Black Devil” will bring back the “core of our exceptionally talented technical crew of The Three Musketeers and Monte Cristo, alongside Ladj’s longtime producers Srab, to tell his father’s epic and monumental life story.”
Ayadi and Barral said the project allies “some of the finest talents of their generation to embody these historic and larger-than-life figures.” The duo said the cast will “infuse powerful energy and authenticity into this epic.” The project will also pursue Srab’s “creative journey with Ladj Ly” with the aim to deliver this “long-overlooked story to the widest possible audience.”
Following the huge critical and commercial success of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, which sold nearly 10 million admissions in France and traveled around the world; Pathé Films’ chairman said the company looked forward to “bring to life the story of the man who not only inspired his son Alexandre Dumas’ trailblazing stories, but was also a fearless protector of our democratic values before he was eventually wiped by History because of the color of his skin.”
Safaee said the movie’s “exceptional cast shines a light on the epic, long-forgotten destiny of General Dumas, a true story that left us in awe, and whose universal resonance is amplified by the international renown of these actors.”
Preparation for “Dumas: Black Devil” has already begun for a February 2026 start date.
©Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent
@elsakeslassy
