EXCLUSIVE : It appears Baz Luhrmann has found the title heroine for his Warner Bros epic Jehanne d’Arc . Deadline hears he’s in early talks with Isla Johnston to play Joan of Arc . You might remember her from Queen’s Gambit , where she played the younger version of the Beth Harmon character that was a breakout for Anya Taylor-Joy.

This was the hot role among young actresses — maybe not the right way to describe it, since Joan was burned at the stake in the 1400s after leading the troops in the Siege of Orleans and pressing for the coronation of Charles VII as the French king during the 100 Year War. She is considered a patron saint of France.

Luhrmann has been prepping the film, and he winnowed the field down to a small group of youngsters before deciding on Johnston. He wrote

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