Leonardo DiCaprio’s Forgotten Double Role Film Surges on Netflix

Leonardo DiCaprio has a knack for nailing every character he takes on, no matter the challenge. Not long after bursting onto the scene in the early ‘90s, he started picking up some pretty unusual gigs. One of the most memorable? A historical action flick where he played not one, but two blokes—both the hero and the villain.

Directed by Randall Wallace, this film has made a surprise comeback 28 years after its original run. It’s now sitting comfortably at number eight on Netflix’s global trending list, with punters everywhere giving it another look. Back in the day, the film copped mixed reviews, but now, heaps of viewers are revisiting DiCaprio’s standout performance from his younger years.

Plot Twists and Royal Intrigue

The story follows a tangled web of French court politics, where a group of ageing musketeers plot to swap out the much-hated King Louis XIV for his secret twin brother. DiCaprio takes on both roles, bringing to life the king and his hidden sibling. The plot, full of betrayal and backstabbing, draws inspiration from Alexandre Dumas’s classic tales, especially his 19th-century novel about D’Artagnan and the musketeers.

With the country fed up under Louis XIV’s rule, the musketeers hatch a plan to break his twin out of prison and put him on the throne. The king, well aware of his brother’s existence, orders him locked away and forced to wear an iron mask to keep his identity under wraps. The film centres on the musketeers’ risky mission to restore some order to the kingdom.

Fact or Fiction?

There’s been plenty of speculation about whether any of this actually happened. In the 17th century, a valet named Eustache Dauger was kept under tight wraps by the king, but there’s no solid evidence of a musketeer-led coup. Some reckon Dauger was hidden behind a velvet cloth, not an iron mask, and he was shuffled between prisons in the late 1690s.

The author behind the original story claimed Dauger was the king’s twin, hidden away to avoid a royal mess. The film takes this rumour and runs with it, spinning a tale of what might’ve gone down if the legend were true.

Cast, Crew, and Reception

Here’s a quick rundown: Randall Wallace directed, with a cast featuring DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, and Gabriel Byrne. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes scores sit at 33% from critics and 55% from audiences, while IMDb rates it 6.5 out of 10.

What do you reckon—was there really a hidden twin brother? The film is now streaming for anyone keen to make up their own mind.