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."
Napoleon Portrait Poster - Joaquin Phoenix
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.''
