After years in the works, Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon is finally here. Covering major conflicts including the Siege of Toulon, the Battle of Austerlitz and the Battle of Waterloo, the war film will cover the rise and fall of the Corsican-French military commander.
The film sees celebrated director Scott reunite with Oscar-winning Joaquin Phoenix 23 years after they collaborated on Gladiator (2000).
“With Napoleon, I think we dug in and found the character, or as close to what he may have been,” said Scott to Empire in December. “Joaquin is probably the most special, thoughtful actor I’ve ever worked with.”
Here’s everything to know about the upcoming epic.
What is Napoleon going to be about?
Napoleon will tell the story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power – battles and war strategy aplenty – while also focusing on his volatile relationship with his wife Empress Joséphine. Joaquin Phoenix will play the French Emperor, while Vanessa Kirby takes on the role of Joséphine.
When will the film be released?
Napoleon will be released in the UK and in the US November 22, 2023.
Is there a trailer?
Yes. The two-and-a-half-minute clip, which we’ve put at the top of the page, has all the crucial components of a thrilling historical drama, including slow motion battle scenes, cannon fire and explosions, raucous and angry crowds, incredible costumes, exquisite sets, snogging and dramatic scenes in cathedrals – all of which have been exquisitely captured in Scott’s production.
The trailer has been extremely welcomed by both Scott fans and history buffs, who have been waiting years for the film to come to fruition. In the comments beneath the trailer, one fan hailed Scott as the master of the historical epic, while another said, “This looks incredible!”
Who is going to star in Napoleon?
Other cast members joining Phoenix and Kirby include French actors Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian) and Ludivine Sagnier (The Serpent Queen), and British actors Ben Miles (V for Vendetta), Matthew Needham (Sanditon), Youssef Kerkour (House of Gucci) and Phil Cornwell (Mrs Brown’s Boys).
Who is the team behind the major production?
The epic has been written by David Scarpa who wrote The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) and All the Money in the World (2017).
However, the script was apparently somewhat rewritten for Phoenix: “With Joaquin, we can rewrite the goddamn film because he’s uncomfortable. And that kind of happened with Napoleon,” said Scott. “We unpicked the film to help him focus on who Bonaparte was. I had to respect that, because what was being said was incredibly constructive. It made it all grow bigger and better.”
The film’s score has been composed by Martin Phipps who co-composed the music for Harry Brown (2009), Brighton Rock (2010) and The Aftermath (2019).
Director Scott’s filmography is a roll-call of some of the most ground-breaking movies of the last century, including Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), G.I. Jane (1997), Gladiator (2000), Hannibal (2001) and The Martian (2015). The 85-year-old has been nominated for four Oscars, and has won two BAFTAs, two Emmys, and a Golden Globe award.
What have the critics said?
On the whole the reviews have been complimentary: "Well, blimey: boning sure does play a big part in this biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte," said the Standard in its four-star review. "It’s odd and frankly a bit of a shame that the trailer largely sells Napoleon as a standard issue war epic because that’s not what it is at all."
Another critic said: "Ridley Scott dispenses with the symbolic weight attached to previous biopics in favour of a spectacle with a great star at its centre." Other reviewers described the epic as "a magnificent slab of dad cinema", "an awe-inspiring achievement" and "perversely watchable".
What else has Scott been up to recently?
The prolific director is currently working on a sequel to Gladiator (2000), in which he also worked with Phoenix. In the new Gladiator, Paul Mescal will star alongside Barry Keoghan, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. Filming was held up due to the actor’s strike, but should be recommencing soon.
Gladiator was the second-highest-earning film in the world in 2000, pulling in a massive $460 million. It was nominated for 12 Oscars, and won five including Best Picture, meaning that expectation is sky-high for a Gladiator part two.
What other projects is Phoenix working on?
As well as transforming into Napoleon, Phoenix has two other films in the works. He is returning to play the Joker in Todd Phillips’ sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, which is set to be released in October next year. Plus, there have been reports that he will star in Lynn Ramsay’s Polaris, which is reportedly an adaptation of a Margaret Atwood story, with his fiancée Rooney Mara.
