Long after Gladiator was released in 2000, Ridley Scott is set to reunite with Joaquin Phoenix, who was last seen in the 2023 Ari Aster film Beau Is Afraid, in the upcoming Apple TV+ historical epic drama Napoleon. Capturing the life of the French military commander, Napoleon will feature Joaquin Phoenix in the role of the eponymous character and Vanessa Kirby in the role of his lover and partner Empress Josephine. The movie will focus on Napoleon’s rise to power in the context of his dynamic and intense relationship with Josephine.
What Is ‘Napoleon’s Plot About?
The trailer of Napoleon takes off in the tumultuous years of the French Revolution when unrest had taken over the streets of France. Years of public anger translate into an uproar as Marie Antoinette is shown to be taken toward the guillotine. The chaos around Napoleon set the perfect stage for his ruthless rise as a military commander and the leader of a reborn France.
After briefly highlighting the conditions that paved the way for Napoleon to seize power, the trailer quickly shifts focus toward Napoleon’s relationship with Josephine, who remained a central figure in the former’s life. Shifting between scenes of conquests led by Napoleon in Egypt and other countries and his parallel rise to unchallenged power, Napoleon‘s trailer sheds light on the French emperor’s military prowess that made him a lethal force on the battlefield as well as his ruthless, tyrannical way of functioning that attracted many opponents and critics.
Here’s the synopsis of ‘Napoleon’:
Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar®-winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.
Who All Are In The Cast Of ‘Napoleon’?
Napoleon features Academy Award-winner Joaquin Phoenix in the role of the titular character. The last time Phoenix collaborated with Ridley Scott, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for his role of Roman Emperor Commodus. Phoenix is paired against Vanessa Kirby, who is playing the role of Josephine. She was last seen in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which is currently in cinemas.
Other cast members of Napoleon include The Serpent star Tahar Rahim and The Crown star Ben Miles. Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, Youssef Kerkour, Phil Cornwell, and Youssef Kerkour will also play significant characters in the historical drama.
What Else Do We Know About ‘Napoleon’?
Scott is joined by his frequent associate David Scarpa, who has written the film. Game of Thrones producer Mark Huffam and Manchester by the Sea (2016) Kevin J. Walsh joins Scott and Phoenix as producers for the film. Dariusz Wolski, best known for his work in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, has handled the cinematography for the film. British composer Martin Phipps, who has composed the music for Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders, and The Crown, has composed the music for the film. Sony Pictures Releasing and Apple Studios will look after the movie’s theatrical release before its release on Apple TV+.
Initially titled ‘Kitbag’, Napoleon will feature six major battle sequences, some of which have been showcased in the trailer as well. The Last Duel star Jodie Comer was initially chosen by Scott to play the role of Josephine, but changes in scheduling led to the actress’ departure from the project. Stowe Avenue and House in Buckinghamshire, Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and Lincoln Cathedral have served as the filming locations. According to ComingSoon.net, the film will have a run time of nearly 157 minutes.
The release date for Napoleon is yet to be announced.
Watch the trailer for ‘Napoleon’ here:
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