Get Tickets NAPOLEON opens November 22
There are plenty of great movies that tell the story of famous historical figures, and in 2023, movie lovers will get to watch the story of Napoleon Bonaparte in NAPOLEON.
Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix, NAPOLEON is coming to AMC Theatres soon. There are a some very exciting things we know about this film that fans are going to want to hear before it opens in theatres nationwide.
The Rise Of Napoleon Bonaparte
NAPOLEON follows the rise and fall of the legendary emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, whose rule over France took place (for the most part) from 1804 to 1814. With a life as extravagant as Bonaparte’s, the film aims to show precisely how the emperor rose to power, showcasing his military tactics and political alliances. NAPOLEON will also detail his relationship with Josephine, his first wife.
Based on the description, NAPOLEON will have epic battle sequences unlike any other film for the screen. Those who’ve seen GLADIATOR likely know how well Ridley Scott can direct a great battle sequence. And there have been plenty of fantastic battle sequences in other films – two examples of war movies with great battle sequences would be DUNKIRK and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but soon moviegoers will get the chance to see what battle looked like during Napoleon’s rule.
Joaquin Phoenix Stars
Joaquin Phoenix is the main star of NAPOLEON, playing the title character, Napoleon Bonaparte. In the trailer, which we’ll get to shortly, we have already gotten our first look at the talented actor who worked alongside Ridley Scott in GLADIATOR.
Phoenix has been in various movies throughout his career that have garnered praise. In addition to his role in GLADIATOR, and more recently, winning the Academy Award® for Best Actor for his lead role in JOKER, Phoenix has been in several films that have earned him critical acclaim, including HER, WALK THE LINE, BEAU IS AFRAID, HOTEL RWANDA, SIGNS, THE VILLAGE, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, and more.
Soon, the actor will take on the role of Arthur Fleck again in JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX, but until that film comes out, NAPOLEON is the next Phoenix movie fans will want to see.
Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine
Also starring in NAPOLEON is Vanessa Kirby, who will play Empress Joséphine, Napoleon’s wife. Napoleon’s relationship with the empress is expected to be a big part of the movie’s focus. Though she’s said to be Napoleon’s “one true love” their relationship was also a bit chaotic, so it would make sense that she would have a significant role in this film in Napoleon’s rise to power.
Vanessa Kirby has appeared in plenty of films before this, including PIECES OF A WOMAN, HOBBS & SHAW, THE WORLD TO COME, THE SON, GENIUS, and more. She’s also well known for her appearances in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise since 2018. And on the small screen, Kirby is known for her starring role as Princess Margaret in the hit Netflix series, "The Crown," which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Directed By Ridley Scott
As mentioned above, Ridley Scott directed NAPOLEON. Scott is known to be a visionary filmmaker and has worked on several major movies with extensive battle sequences and beautiful visuals.
Some movies that fans might recognize from his catalog of extensive filmmaking include BLADE RUNNER, ALIEN, BLACK HAWK DOWN, PROMETHEUS, THELMA & LOUISE, GLADIATOR, THE MARTIAN and many others.
Most recently, in 2021, Ridley Scott directed both THE LAST DUEL and HOUSE OF GUCCI, two movies that had vastly different settings but both had stories and cinematography that were some of the best of the year. Scott is also set to direct GLADIATOR 2, a sequel to the long-awaited GLADIATOR.
As mentioned previously, this is the second time that Scott and Phoenix have collaborated on a film together following GLADIATOR in 2000, and Scott revealed in an interview with Empire in October 2022 that Scott made changes to NAPOLEON based around Phoenix's performance, and his reasoning why:
"Joaquin is about as far from conventional as you can get. Not deliberately, but out of intuition. That's what makes him tick. If something bothers him, he'll let you know. He made [Napoleon] special by constantly questioning. With Joaquin, we can rewrite the goddamn film because he's uncomfortable. And that kind of happened with Napoleon. 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."
With that in mind, NAPOLEON sounds fascinating, and it'll be interesting to see what Joaquin Phoenix brings to the performance.
Watch The Trailer
If movie fans are at all excited for NAPOLEON, be sure to check out the trailer down below for a look at what’s to come. It features Phoenix as the legendary emperor and we get a glimpse of the battles set to play out on the big screen.
Soon, movie lovers everywhere will be able to witness the rise and fall of one of the most known emperors of all time. Be sure to check out your local AMC Theatre for the times available to check out Ridley Scott's next film.
Get Tickets NAPOLEON opens November 22
