A legal dispute has arisen over the title Le Diable noir (The Black Devil), which is associated with a film about General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. The film is directed by Ladj Ly and produced by SRAB Films and Chapter 2. The conflict involves author Claude Ribbe, who has filed a motion to block the use of the title or its variations. A hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2026, in a Paris court. Claude Ribbe, who has worked on Thomas-Alexandre Dumas for over two decades, says he does not want to prevent the film from being made but wishes to distance himself from it. He claims that the title Le Diable noir, which he used for a biography published in 2008 and later for a historical novel in 2026, should not be linked to the film. The brand Le Diable noir was officially registered with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) on November 19, 2024, for film-related activities. The film was initially announced as Le Premier Dumas on October 22, 2024, just before the trademark registration. However, the second volume of the comic book Le Premier Dumas, published by Glénat on September 27, 2023, had already used the title Le Diable noir. Ribbe says he did not take legal action against the comic book but considers the film's use of the title different due to its larger scale. The film was first registered with the Cinema and Audiovisual Registers on November 27, 2025, under the title Le Premier Dumas. After Ribbe’s novel Le Diable noir was published on May 20, 2026, his lawyer sent a warning to the production team. The title was later changed to Dumas – Diable noir in the register on July 3, 2026. However, the title had already been used publicly before this date, including by the Île-de-France Region and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma. Ribbe also argues that the production team may have unfairly benefited from his work and reputation, a legal concept known as parasitism. He claims that his long association with General Dumas and the initial contact established by the production could have helped the film gain historical credibility. The film has a budget of nearly 43 million euros and is produced by SRAB Films and Chapter 2, with Pathé Films set to distribute it in France. Ladj Ly directs Théo Christine in the role of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, with Omar Sy, Vincent Cassel, François Civil, and Galatéa Bellugi in supporting roles. Part of the filming took place in Haute-Savoie in the spring of 2026, and the film is now in post-production with a planned release date of October 13, 2027. Chapter 2, known for producing major films such as Les Trois Mousquetaires and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, has not yet responded to the accusations or clarified the timeline of the project. The outcome of the legal dispute will be decided by the Paris court on October 5, 2026.