The legendary veteran director Ridley Scott loves nothing more than a historical epic, with the likes of Gladiator and The Last Duel among the relevant examples.
Now the Alien and Blade Runner filmmaker is taking on the life of famed French military commander Napoleon Bonaparte, with Joaquin Phoenix taking on the title role.
A brand new trailer has now emerged online on Wednesday highlighting the excitement that’s been attached to the new release.
If the trailer is anything to go by, cinemagoers will certainly be treated to something very special, complete with battles, pageantry, and all sorts of political intrigue.
Napoleon will be released here on Wednesday 22nd November 2023. The film will later arrive on Apple TV+ at an as-yet unannounced date.
Speaking to Total Film, Scott revealed: “I’m working on it. It was four [hours] 10 [minutes] this morning. And so what happens is, we’ll screen [the theatrical cut] first with Sony, and then it has its run, and then the perfect thing is that [the director’s cut] goes to streaming, and we have four hours 10 minutes.”
The full list of actors appearing in the film is listed below:
- Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France
- Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine, formerly Joséphine de Beauharnais
- Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras
- Ben Miles as Caulaincourt
- Ludivine Sagnier as Theresa Cabarrus, Madame Tallien
- Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte
- Youssef Kerkour as Marshal Davout
- Phil Cornwell as Sanson ‘The Bourreau’
- Édouard Philipponnat as Tsar Alexander I of Russia
- Ian McNeice as TBD
- Paul Rhys as Talleyrand
- Catherine Walker as Marie Antoinette, former Queen of France
- Gavin Spokes as Moulin
- John Hollingworth as Marshal Ney
- Mark Bonnar as Jean-Andoche Junot
- Anna Mawn as The Archduchess Marie-Louise
- Davide Tucci as Lazare Hoche
- Sam Crane as Jacques-Louis David
- Scott Handy as Marshal Berthier
Joaquin Phoenix is the star of the show as the titular Emperor and he’s joined by Vannessa Kirby as his first wife Empress Joséphine – with the The Crown star having replaced Jodie Comer after the latter dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Meanwhile, Rupert Everett takes on the role of iconic historical figure Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, who serves as a military commander against Napoleon.
Discussing the film with Empire, Ridley Scott said: “I compare him with Alexander The Great. Adolf Hitler. Stalin.”
He added: “Listen, he’s got a lot of bad s**t under his belt. At the same time, he was remarkable with his courage, and in his can-do and in his dominance. He was extraordinary.”
Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix commented: “Certainly speaking for myself, I actively wanted to avoid the conventions of the biopic.”
You can watch the trailer below.
