Producers of Last Duel film hit with ‘Covid-related expenses’ bill of €8.17m

The producers of Matt Damon’s The Last Duel shot in Ireland were left nursing a Covid-19 bill of €8.17 million, new accounts show. Production on the film was delayed due to Government Covid-19 restrictions

The image of the Hollywood actor emerging from SuperValu in Dalkey carrying a plastic bag provided some light relief during the pandemic’s first lockdown.

However, the backers of The Last Duel had little to smile about as the impact of Covid-19 added significantly to the cost of the Ridley Scott-directed movie which fared poorly at the box office.

The critically acclaimed movie – shot in Ireland and France – availed of Revenue section 481 corporation tax credits of between €10 million and €30 million.

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Accounts for Argentan Productions DAC show that the Covid-19 bill of €8.64 million for 2021 under the heading of “Covid-related expenses” wasn’t far off the €9.57 million paid to Damon and other leading members of the cast that included Jodie Comer, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck.

[ Matt Damon’s The Last Duel big winner in tax relief for films ]

Damon and Affleck also had producer and screenplay credits for the historical action drama and Metropolitan Films International subsidiary, Argentan, was able to recoup €470,287 of its Covid-related costs in 2022, leaving a net Covid-19 bill of €8.17 million for the production.

The 2022 accounts provide a detailed breakdown of the €53.15 million spent in the previous year and give an insight into the costs surrounding a Hollywood production.

The makers put out a call for hundreds of people to appear as extras in the movie and they were paid a total €379,326.

Accounts also show that director’s costs amounted to €1.78 million while producer costs came to €1.61 million.

A further €452,626 was paid to the supporting cast while the period drama’s wardrobe costs came to €1.3 million. Make-up and hair costs came to another €657,798.

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Characters riding on horseback featured prominently in the film and the animals and handlers’ bill came to €449,316. The stunts bill totalled €676,109.

Other major costs included set construction which came to €4.02 million while production staff costs amounted to €1.98 million. Art department costs totalled €1.1 million. Travel and living costs amounted to €3.43 million while transportation costs came to €1.73 million. “Set dressing” totalled €1.38 million. A further €3.7 million was spent on location and office expenses.