“Napoleon,” Ridley Scott’s sweeping historical epic about the French leader, debuted footage for the first time at CinemaCon. The film is produced by Apple Original Films and is being distributed in theaters by Sony, which used its presentation to talk up the movie.
“The film shouts big screen,” Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman teased.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as Napoleon Bonaparte, the brilliant military strategist who conquered much of Europe. But the film isn’t all about the battles that determined the course of history. It will also offer a more personal look at the visionary commander by dissecting his volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine, who is played by Vanessa Kirby.
But the footage shared at CinemaCon was a snowy conflict between the French and an opposing army who get lured into a trap with bloody consequences.
“Let them think they have the higher ground,” Phoenix as Napoleon tells his troops. Calvaries charge, cannons fire and Napoleon’s unlucky enemies are tricked into retreating onto sheer ice. It’s real cast-of-thousands stuff that must have cost a pretty penny (it helps that Apple has a market cap that would leave Napoleon trembling).
The film could be a major awards season player. Kirby was previously nominated for an Oscar for “Pieces of a Woman,” while Phoenix won the prize for “Joker.” Plus, Scott knows his way around a historical epic, having previously directed the likes of “Gladiator,” “The Last Duel” and “Exodus: Gods and Kings.”
“He can do things cinematically that few if any filmmakers half his age can do,” said Rothman, who noted that Scott has yet to win an Oscar. The director “does it on a scale not seen in years,” the studio chief said.
“Napoleon” will open in cinemas exclusively on Nov. 22 before streaming globally on Apple TV+ on an undetermined date.
The film is an Apple Studios production that was made in conjunction with Scott Free Productions. Scott and Phoenix produced the movie alongside Kevin Walsh and Mark Huffam. Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott served as executive producers. David Scarpa wrote the screenplay for “Napoleon.”
“Hold on to your tri-corner hats,” Rothman said.