Marie-Jeanne Valet was a real woman, and La Bête du Gevaudan is a real story. Marie-Jeanne Valet is historically known as The Maid of Gevaudan, and is celebrated as one of few who wounded the famous beast while it reigned terror on the French village. While walking through the woods, Marie-Jeanne had a bayonet mounted on a stick to ward off a potential attack by the beast. When it did attack her, she was able to wound it and throw it into the river. However, when the help she retrieved came to examine the beast, it was gone.
Crystal Reed's middle name is Marie (as is Holland Roden's).