Alexander Dumas’ masterpiece has been adapted more times than almost any other book in history. Seriously. Since the silent film era, directors have been obsessed with finding the perfect group of guys to pull off the tabards and the "all for one" attitude. But if you look at the cast of the 3 musketeers across different decades, it’s wild how much the "vibe" changes. One year they’re slapstick comedians, the next they’re gritty action stars, and sometimes they’re just... well, Charlie Sheen.
You’ve got to wonder if Dumas would even recognize some of these guys. Every generation thinks they have the definitive D’Artagnan. Is it the 1970s swashbuckler? The 90s heartthrob? Or the modern, muddy French version?
The 1973 Richard Lester Standard
A lot of film purists will tell you—honestly, they’ll yell it at you—that the 1973 Richard Lester film features the absolute gold standard for the cast of the 3 musketeers. It was a massive production. They actually shot so much footage that the producers split it into two movies (The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers) without initially telling the actors. This led to the famous "Salkind Clause" in SAG contracts to prevent that from happening again.
The chemistry here was lightning in a bottle. Oliver Reed as Athos is arguably the greatest casting choice in the franchise’s history. Reed was a notorious real-life hellraiser, and he brought that heavy, vodka-soaked melancholy to Athos that the character desperately needs. He wasn't just playing a drunk; he felt like a man haunted by his past.
Frank Finlay played Porthos with just enough vanity, and Richard Chamberlain gave Aramis that weirdly specific mix of "I want to be a priest" and "I want to sleep with everyone." Then you had Michael York as D'Artagnan. He was perfectly naive. He looked like a puppy that didn't know how to use a sword yet, which is exactly how the book starts.
Why this cast worked so well
- Oliver Reed’s gravitas: He didn't need to act tough. He just was.
- Raquel Welch as Constance: She brought a comedic timing that people often forgot she had.
- Charlton Heston as Richelieu: Seeing an American icon play the calculating Cardinal was a stroke of genius.
- Christopher Lee as Rochefort: Obviously. If you need a villain in the 70s, you call Lee.
The 1993 Disney Era: Brat Pack in Capes
If you grew up in the 90s, your cast of the 3 musketeers didn't wear velvet; they wore leather and had great hair. This is the version people love to hate, but honestly? It’s a blast. It’s basically a 90s action movie that happens to be set in 17th-century France.
Chris O’Donnell was at the height of his "Golden Boy" phase as D’Artagnan. He’s fine, but the real meat of the movie is the trio. Kiefer Sutherland played Athos. It was a very different energy from Oliver Reed—more "whispering tough guy"—but it worked for the MTV generation.
✨ Don't miss: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
Then you have Charlie Sheen as Aramis. Looking back, it’s hilarious. He’s playing a devout, spiritual swordsman while looking like he just walked off the set of Wall Street. And Oliver Platt as Porthos? He carries the entire movie on his back. He understood exactly what kind of movie they were making. He was loud, boisterous, and funny.
The real MVP of the 1993 cast, though, is Tim Curry as Cardinal Richelieu. He is chewing every piece of scenery within a five-mile radius. It’s not "historically accurate," but who cares? It’s Tim Curry.
The BBC's 2014 Gritty Reinvention
For a long time, the cast of the 3 musketeers felt a bit... theatrical. The costumes were too clean. The BBC changed that with their series The Musketeers. They went for a "Western" feel. Lots of mud. Lots of grit.
Tom Burke’s Athos is probably the closest we’ve gotten to the book’s version since the 70s. He’s brooding but sophisticated. But the standout here was Howard Charles as Porthos. They actually leaned into the character’s mixed-race background, which is a nod to Alexandre Dumas’ own heritage (his grandfather was a French nobleman and his grandmother was an enslaved woman of African descent). It added a layer of depth to the character that the movies usually skip in favor of "fat guy who likes wine."
Santiago Cabrera played Aramis, and Luke Pasqualino took on D’Artagnan. This cast had 30 episodes to develop their bond, which is something a two-hour movie just can't compete with. You actually believe these guys would die for each other.
The Recent French Renaissance (2023)
Recently, the French decided they wanted their story back. Martin Bourboulon directed a two-part epic: D'Artagnan and Milady. This cast of the 3 musketeers is stacked with French cinema royalty.
🔗 Read more: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
- François Civil: A frantic, energetic D’Artagnan.
- Vincent Cassel: Playing Athos as an older, broken man. Cassel is incredible here.
- Pio Marmaï: A bisexual, hedonistic Porthos.
- Romain Duris: A cunning, stylish Aramis.
- Eva Green: The definitive Milady de Winter.
This version feels heavy. The swords aren't light foils; they are heavy pieces of steel that actually hurt people. The casting of Eva Green is particularly inspired. She has this way of being terrifying and sympathetic at the same time, which is the whole point of Milady. If you haven't seen this version, you're missing out on the most "authentic" feeling adaptation in decades.
Comparing the "Fourth" Musketeer: D'Artagnan Through the Ages
The success of the cast of the 3 musketeers almost always hinges on the kid. D'Artagnan is our surrogate. We enter the world through him.
Gene Kelly played him in 1948. It was basically a musical without the singing. Kelly was an athlete, and his D'Artagnan jumped over tables and swung from chandeliers like he was in Singin' in the Rain. It was impressive, but maybe a bit too "clean."
Then you have Logan Lerman in the 2011 version. Let’s be real: that movie was a mess. Airships? Leonardo da Vinci blueprints? It felt like Pirates of the Caribbean on land. Lerman is a good actor, but he felt overshadowed by the CGI. When your cast includes Mads Mikkelsen and Christoph Waltz, the hero needs to be incredibly charismatic to keep the spotlight. Lerman just felt a bit drowned out by the noise.
The Women of the Musketeers: More Than Just Damsels
You can't talk about the cast of the 3 musketeers without talking about the women. Constance Bonacieux and Milady de Winter are the engines of the plot.
In the 1973 version, Faye Dunaway’s Milady was cold as ice. She was a woman operating in a man’s world by being smarter and more ruthless than all of them. Fast forward to 1993, and Rebecca De Mornay brought a more "femme fatale" 90s thriller energy to the role.
💡 You might also like: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
Constance is often the hardest role to cast because she can easily become a "boring" love interest. However, in the BBC series, Maimie McCoy played Milady with such a tragic backstory that you almost rooted for her. And Tamla Kari’s Constance was fierce—she wasn't just waiting to be rescued; she was actively helping the Musketeers navigate the politics of the court.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Casting
A common misconception is that Porthos is just "the big funny guy." In the original novel, he’s incredibly complex. He’s obsessed with status and clothes. He’s a bit of a dandy. Most movies just make him the comic relief.
The 2023 French version is the first time in a long while where the cast of the 3 musketeers feels like a group of soldiers rather than a group of actors in costumes. They are dirty. They are tired. They have scars.
Finding Your Favorite Version
So, which cast of the 3 musketeers should you watch? It really depends on what you're looking for.
If you want the most "accurate" feeling to the book's grit and politics, go with the 2023 French films. The cinematography is moody, and the acting is top-tier.
If you want a fun, nostalgic adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously, the 1993 Disney version is a classic. The soundtrack (that Bryan Adams/Sting/Rod Stewart song) alone is worth the price of admission.
If you want the best acting and the most iconic performances, the 1973 Richard Lester version is still the king. It balances the humor and the tragedy of the story better than anyone else has managed to do in fifty years.
How to dive deeper into the lore
- Read the original text: If you've only seen the movies, you're missing about 60% of the story. Dumas wrote it as a serial, so it's a page-turner.
- Watch the 1973 and 2023 versions back-to-back: It’s a fascinating look at how filmmaking and the "hero" archetype have evolved over 50 years.
- Check out "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1998): This features an "older" cast of the 3 musketeers with Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Gérard Depardieu. It’s a great look at what happens to these characters when they get old and grumpy.
- Look for the 1921 Douglas Fairbanks version: If you want to see where the cinematic "swashbuckler" DNA actually comes from.
The story of the Musketeers is really about friendship and the transition from youth to adulthood. Whether they are played by 70s legends, 90s stars, or modern French icons, that core bond is what keeps us coming back. Each cast of the 3 musketeers adds a new layer to the legend, making sure that D'Artagnan and his friends never truly grow old.