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- “From Glory to Exile: Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ Chronicles the Life of a Legend”
- “A Cinematic Masterpiece Unveiled: ‘Napoleon’ (2023) Directed by Ridley Scott”
- “Unveiling History: ‘Napoleon’ Takes Audiences on a Thrilling Biographical Ride”
- “Cinematic Excellence in ‘Napoleon’: Joaquin Phoenix Portrays the Iconic Emperor”
- “Epic Tale of Ambition and Power: Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ Hits the Big Screen”
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- “Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’: A Captivating Biographical Odyssey with Joaquin Phoenix”

“Napoleon” (2023) is poised to be one of the standout films of 2023, and it’s no surprise. By now, no one doubts that Ridley Scott has created several iconic films in the past decades, including titles like “Alien” (1979), “Blade Runner” (1982), and “Thelma & Louise” (1991), which can be counted among the best works of Ridley Scott. His upcoming project (alongside “Gladiator 2”) marks a return to historical epic with Napoleon Bonaparte at the center, potentially becoming one of his most ambitious films in years.
Originally titled ‘Kitbag’ until January 2022, the film was renamed ‘Napoleon’. The previous title alluded to an English saying: “There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag.”
The story will bring us closer to the life of the renowned French general and later emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. The film is set to be distributed by Apple Studios on their streaming platform, Apple TV+, though a theatrical release is not ruled out for eligibility in the upcoming Oscars. It is written by David Scarpa, who previously collaborated with Scott on “All the Money in the World,” and produced by Scott and Kevin J. Walsh (“Manchester by the Sea,” “Death on the Nile”).
For the lead role, Scott has enlisted a familiar face, Joaquin Phoenix. The Oscar-winning actor for “Joker” was directed by Scott over two decades ago in “Gladiator,” where he portrayed the Emperor as the villainous Commodus. Now he takes on the mantle once again, from one empire to another.
‘Napoleon’: Release Date Regardless of rumors suggesting a potential screening at the Cannes Film Festival in the coming May, the film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 24, 2023, positioning itself for the upcoming awards season.

‘Napoleon’: Synopsis The film will explore Napoleon’s rise to power as well as the challenges in his relationship with his wife, Empress Josephine. In interviews, Scott acknowledged that “Napoleon is a man who has always fascinated me. He came out of nowhere to rule everything, yet he was engaged in a romantic war with his adulterous wife. 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.”
While specific plot details are not widely known, Napoleon’s life is well-documented, offering various points to create an intriguing biopic. Born in Corsica, an island off the coast of France, into a family of minor Italian noble ancestry, he joined the forces of the French Revolution as a low-ranking officer and played a role in the Siege of Toulon in 1793. There, he gained recognition for strategic decisions that contributed to the revolutionary victory. Napoleon fought in several wars for France across Italy, Austria, and Egypt in the following decade, rising to a respected commander. In 1799, he staged a coup against the government and established himself as a dictator.

From then on, he remained in near-constant warfare with the rest of Europe, achieving one of the most impressive series of military victories in history. Ultimately, he was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 and exiled to the island of Elba in 1814. He soon escaped, returned to France, once again seized power, and was finally definitively defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where he died in 1821.
The film will also depict the relationship between Napoleon and Josephine. Despite the love he felt for her, their marriage suffered due to their inability to have children. They divorced in 1810, and Napoleon remarried Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, with whom he had his desired heir, Napoleon II.

‘Napoleon’: Cast As previously mentioned, the role of Napoleon Bonaparte is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker,” “Her,” “Gladiator”). Since his appearance in “Gladiator,” Phoenix has made a name for himself in the industry for his talent and portrayal of complex and troubled characters. In an interview with Deadline, Scott remarked, “No actor could embody Napoleon like Joaquin. He created one of the most complex emperors in film history in ‘Gladiator,’ and we’ll create another with his Napoleon.”
The actor-director bond has been so strong that Scott rewrote the film to better suit his lead actor. The transformation has been exceptionally positive, as Scott stated, “Joaquin is as unconventional as you can get… If something bothers him, he will let you know. With Joaquin, we rewrote the whole damn movie just because he felt uncomfortable. Similar to what happened with Napoleon…”

Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine, will be played by Vanessa Kirby, known for her role as Princess Margaret in “The Crown” and as arms dealer Alanna Mistopolis, also known as the White Widow, in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” Initially, another actress, Jodie Comer, was cast for the role of the emperor’s consort. The “Killing Eve” star, who also appeared in Scott’s “The Last Duel,” agreed to play Josephine in 2021, but it was announced in January 2022 that she had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts. Later, Oscar-nominated Vanessa Kirby took her place.
French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim (“A Prophet”) portrays Paul Barras, a prominent politician of the French Revolution who headed the governing Directory when Napoleon staged his coup; Barras was subsequently exiled.
In addition to Kirby and Rahim, Phoenix is joined by Ludivine Sagnier, Ben Miles, Ian McNeice, Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte, the protagonist’s brother. John Hollinworth, Youssef Kerkour, Gavin Spokes, and Phil Cornwell, among others, round out the cast.
Throughout the production, unofficial images of Phoenix dressed as the French sovereign have been circulating on social media for the past year.
Who Was Napoleon?

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and its subsequent period of instability. He was born in Corsica in 1769 and gained military education and experience in France. Napoleon’s military skills and strategic brilliance allowed him to rapidly ascend the ranks of the French army.
He eventually became Emperor of the French in 1804, consolidating his power and instituting numerous reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, which had a significant influence on modern legal systems. Napoleon’s military campaigns expanded the French Empire across much of Europe, but his ambitions also led to conflicts with other European powers.
Napoleon’s rule saw both impressive achievements and controversial actions. His reign brought about significant changes in politics, law, and society. However, his aggressive expansionism and wars ultimately led to his downfall. After a series of military defeats, he was exiled to the island of Elba in 1814.
Napoleon managed to escape from Elba in 1815 and briefly returned to power in a period known as the Hundred Days. However, his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo led to his final exile, this time to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. He died in exile in 1821.
Napoleon’s legacy is complex and enduring. He left an indelible mark on European history, not only through his military conquests but also through the legal reforms and administrative changes he introduced. He remains a significant figure in discussions of leadership, governance, and the balance between individual ambitions and the greater good.
