Last Knight (film)
A con artist discovers he is a legendary bogatyr's son.
The Last Knight, also known as The Last Warrior (Russian: Последний богатырь), is a 2017 Russian-language fantasy comedy film directed by Dmitriy Dyachenko. It became the highest-grossing local-language release of all time in Russia as of November 26, 2017, surpassing Stalingrad with 1.68 billion rubles ($28.8 million). The film was produced by The Walt Disney Company CIS together with Russian companies Yellow, Black and White and Kinoslovo.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Dmitriy Dyachenko
- Producer
- Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan / Eduard Iloyan / Grigoriy Stoyalov / Olga Maksimova
- Screenplay
- Vitaliy Shlyappo / Dimitriy Yan / Pavel Danilov / Igor Tudvasev
- Based On
- Baba Yaga and Koschei
- Starring
- Viktor Khorinyak / Mila Sivatskaya / Konstantin Lavronenko / Elena Yakovleva / Ekaterina Vilkova / Sergey Burunov / Yevgeny Dyatlov
- Music
- George Kallis
- Cinematography
- Sergei Trofimov
- Editing
- Tim Pavelko / Anton Anisimov / Aleksandr Amirov
- Studio
- Walt Disney Pictures / Yellow, Black and White
- Distributor
- Walt Disney Studios Sony Pictures Releasing CIS
- Released
- 29 October 2017 · Russia
- Runtime
- 114 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story follows Ivan Naydenov, a young orphan in modern Moscow who works as a con artist posing as a white mage. After escaping an angry client, he is transported to Belogorie, a parallel version of Ancient Russia inhabited by fairy-tale characters. A volkhv claims Ivan is the lost son of Ilya Muromets. Ivan is captured by Princess Varvara's warriors and imprisoned, where he meets Koschei, who tells him the magical Sword Kladenets is his only way back to Earth. Ivan allies with Koschei, Baba Yaga, and Vasilisa the Wise to find the sword. The plot reveals that Prince Dobrynya Nikitich is the true mastermind, planning to use the sword to become immortal. Ivan eventually defeats Dobrynya with help from Koschei, who sacrifices himself by shattering a magical stone. Ivan reunites with his father Ilya Muromets, stays in Belogorie, and marries Vasilisa.
Reader's Guide
The Last Knight is significant as Disney Russia's second film produced specifically for the Russian market, following The Book of Masters (2009). It became the highest-grossing local-language release in Russia as of November 2017, with a box office of 1.68 billion rubles ($28.8 million) and a final total of $30.5 million. The film holds the 12th place for biggest box-office audiences in Russia. Its success led to two sequels: The Last Warrior: Root of Evil (January 2021) and The Last Warrior: A Messenger of Darkness (December 2021). The production budget was estimated between $6 and $8 million, with 370 million Russian Rubles (~$8 million) spent on production and promotion, equally distributed between Disney and Yellow, Black and White. The Russian government's Cinema Fund contributed 100 million Russian Rubles, half of which was returned due to the film's commercial success.
Did You Know?
- The film was dubbed into English by Disney Character Voices International in 2017, featuring a different cast than originally rumored.
- Principal photography took place in Moscow, near Sochi, and mostly in the Republic of Abkhazia, including locations such as Lake Ritsa and the village of Otapi cave.
- A mid-credit scene shows Varvara on Earth meeting her mother Galina, Ivan's housekeeper, revealing they had planned to enthrall Dobrynya and rule Belogorye.
- The film's television premiere took place on January 1, 2018, on the Russia-1 TV channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Last Knight (2017)?
It is a Russian-language fantasy comedy directed by Dmitriy Dyachenko that blends Slavic folklore with lighthearted, modern humor. The film is also referred to by its Russian title, Posledniy bogatyr, which translates to 'The Last Warrior.'
Who is the protagonist of The Last Knight and what is his role?
The story centers on a street-smart con artist who discovers he is actually the offspring of a legendary bogatyr, a mythical Russian hero. This revelation pulls him out of his petty-scamming life and into an epic quest where he must live up to his father's heroic legacy.
Why is The Last Knight a landmark in Russian box-office history?
By late November 2017 it had collected 1.68 billion rubles domestically, dethroning Stalingrad as the top-grossing home-language release ever in Russia. Its worldwide total eventually reached roughly $30.5 million.
Who produced The Last Knight behind the scenes?
The Walt Disney Company's CIS division teamed up with Russian studios Yellow, Black and White and Kinoslovo to bring the project to the screen. This partnership made it one of the most high-profile Russian-language productions of its era.
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