In Ridley Scott’s new major production Napoleon, Joaquin Phoenix slips into the role of general, consul and emperor. But why him? In any case, Gladiator is not the (only) reason, as Scott reveals in a new report. Another film convinced him that Phoenix is right for the job.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar performance won over Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott was interviewed for an Empire cover story and explained why he cast Joaquin Phoenix to play Napoleon Bonaparte. His decision came after seeing Joker, the dark DC psychological thriller about the clown Prince of Crime. Phoenix later won the Oscar for it. Ridley Scott describes the casting revelation moment as follows:
I stare at Joaquin and think: ‘This little demon is Napoleon Bonaparte’. He looks like it too.
Joaquin Phoenix describes the longing to work with Ridley Scott again, 23 years after Gladiator, on Empire :
The truth is that working with Ridley again was just a very nostalgic thought. I had such an amazing experience with Ridley on Gladiator and I was so young. It was my first big production. I really longed to have that experience again […].
Phoenix isn’t just following in great historical footsteps. Over the past 100 years or so, actors on both sides of the Atlantic have tried their hand at the role, including Albert Dieudonné (Napoleon), Charles Boyer (Maria Walewska), Marlon Brando (Desirée), Vladislav Strzhelchik (War and Peace) Rod Steiger ( Waterloo) and Daniel Auteuil (N – Napoleon).
Napoleon hits theaters in November
Based on the trailer, Napoleon will show at least five major battles from the life of the French ruler. Scott is not only interested in the war drive, but in Napoleon’s relationship with his first wife Josephine de Beauharnais. The official synopsis reads:
A personal insight into the life and rapid rise of the French general to the rank of emperor. The story is facing the Napoleon’s unhealthy, unstable relationship with his wife and only true love Josephine told. The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and amazing strategic mind as an exceptional military leader and war visionary.
Josephine is played by Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning Part One). David Scarpa (All the Money in the World) wrote the screenplay.
Napoleon was produced for the streaming service Apple TV+, but similar to Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon, it will have a German theatrical release. At the November 23 is it time