Apple has dropped the trailer for Ridley Scott’s historical drama film Napoleon. The movie reunites Scott with his former Gladiator star Joaquin Phoenix who plays the historical French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. The film will detail Napoleon’s ruthless rise to power and his wild relationship with his first wife, Josephine. Josephine is played by Vanessa Kirby, who previously worked with Scott in Kitbag. Ridley Scott’s new epic shows the French emperor’s brutality in full force.
The trailer for Napoleon teases brutal moments and action sequences. These include the execution of Marie Antoinette, pyramids being used for target practice, and harsh battles between armies, including cannon firings at a frozen lake.
Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ Trailer Teases Emperor’s Bloody Rise to Power
The Napoleon trailer calls the French military leader an “emperor, lover, tyrant,” and “legend.” Napoleon is undoubtedly a controversial historical figure, with many questioning if he’s a hero or a tyrant. Many celebrate the emperor for his accomplishments, including abolishing feudalism, promoting religious tolerance, establishing legal quality, etc.
However, he was also a violent man with an ego that often became his downfall. Joaquin Phoenix demonstrates some of that ego in the Napoleon trailer. This is evident in the words, “I’m the first to admit when I make a mistake. I simply never do.” However, Josephine is unafraid to challenge that ego in the trailer, saying, “You think you’re great. You are just a tiny little brute that is nothing without me.” It looks like we can expect some romantic tension to accompany the bloody battles in this film.
Another Napoleon-based project is in the works. Steven Spielberg is mounting a limited series for HBO based on a script by the late Stanley Kubrick.
Napoleon is Ridley Scott’s first movie since 2021 when he The Last Duel and House of Gucci. His next project will be a sequel to his Best Picture winner Gladiator, which will star Paul Mescal as the grown nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus.
Napoleon will release in theaters on November 22, 2023. After its theatrical run, the film will air on Apple TV+.
