David Farnor | On 11, Jul 2023

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon rides on to our screens this November, and a new trailer gives us a first look at the historical epic.

Written by David Scarpa, Napoleon stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. The film is an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby.

The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, Napoleon will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment – in partnership with Apple – on 22nd November, before streaming on Apple TV+.

Here’s the trailer:

 

First look: Ridley Scott’s Napoleon set for November release

4th April 2023

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon will be released this November, Apple TV+ has officially announced.

Directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. The film promises an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, Napoleon is produced by Scott, Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.

The film will be released theatrically worldwide, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, on Wednesday 22nd November, before streaming globally on Apple TV+ at a later date.

 

Vanessa Kirby replaces Jodie Comer in Apple’s Kitbag

5th January 2022

Vanessa Kirby will replace Jodie Comer in Ridley Scott’s Apple TV+ film Kitbag.

The Napoleon Bonaparte biopic will see Joaquin Phoenix take on the role of the French emperor and military leader. Written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World), the project will follow Napoleon’s rise to emperor and his volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.

The film was boarded by Apple Studios at the start of last year, swiftly followed by Jodie Comer as Josephine, after her work with Scott on The Last Duel. Now, however, the Killing Eve star has exited due to Covid-related scheduling issues. Deadline reports that Vanessa Kirby has stepped into the role.

Production will begin this spring.

 

Jodie Comer to join Joaquin Phoenix in Kitbag

3rd March 2021

Jodie Comer looks set to join Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Bonaparte biopic, Kitbag.

Reuniting a decade after Gladiator, the epic will see the Joker star take on the role of the French emperor and military leader. Written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World), the project was boarded by Apple Studios at the start of this year.

It will follow Napoleon’s rise to emperor and his volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine. Now, Scott has found his choice for the role, with Deadline reporting that Scott is keen to reunite with Comer after her performance in The Last Duel, which wrapped production at the end of last year.

Also on Comer’s slate is Season 4 of Killing Eve, expected to film later this year, while Scott is finishing off MGM crime thriller House of Gucci starring Lady Gaga.

 

Kitbag: Joaquin Phoenix and Ridley Scott Napoleon epic heads to Apple TV+

15th January 2021

Apple TV+ will be the home of Kitbag, the new Napoleon Bonaparte epic from Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix.

Reuniting a decade after Gladiator, the epic will see the Joker star take on the role of the French emperor and military leader. Written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World), the project first went to Scott as part of his deal with 20th Century Studios, but Apple Studios has now closed a deal for the global rights for the project and will finance and produce the project.

It will follow Napoleon’s rise to emperor and his volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.

“Napoleon is a man I’ve always been fascinated by,” Scott told Deadline. “He came out of nowhere to rule everything — but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine. He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldn’t, he conquered it to destroy her, and destroyed himself in the process.”

“No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin,” Scott added. “He created one of movie history’s most complex Emperors in Gladiator, and we’ll create another with his Napoleon. It’s a brilliant script written by David Scarpa, and today there’s no better partner than Apple to bring a story like this to a global audience.”

The project is the latest high-profile movie to be backed by Apple’s streaming arm, joining Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation, starring Will Smith, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

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