Napoleon Bonaparte was given the full Ridley Scott treatment in Napoleon, one of the many anticipated releases of 2023.
The famous British director is no stranger to epic historical dramas, having already helmed projects like Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Robin Hood, but in 2023, he explored the life of the ruthless French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Joker star Joaquin Phoenix took on the title role, with Vanessa Kirby in the frame as Josephine, Napoleon's one true love. Napoleon views the title character's life through the prism of their relationship but still manages to depict his famous battles.
After a theatrical release in 2023, Apple has finally revealed when the historical epic will be available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Here’s all you need to know about Napoleon…
Napoleon release date
Napoleon premiered in theaters worldwide on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. It was made available on pay-per-view platforms on January 9, 2024 ahead of streaming on Apple TV Plus.
On February 15, Apple finally confirmed that the movie would be available to stream on Apple TV Plus on Friday, March 1.
It’s time for the Emperor to come home. Stream Napoleon on Apple TV+ on March 1. pic.twitter.com/iNIU5zoymhFebruary 15, 2024
Is there a Napoleon trailer?
Yes a couple of Napoleon trailers have arrived with massive-scale war scenes, power struggles and an all-consuming love affair. Take a look at both below...
Napoleon plot
The movie takes a look at Napoleon’s origins and his rapid rise to power to become the Emperor of France. It explores his extraordinarily strategic mind and relentless ambition and focuses on his addictive but, at times, toxic relationship with Josephine.
Apple's full summary for the project reads: "Napoleon is an original and personal look at Napoleon's origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. The film captures Napoleon's famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary."
Napoleon cast — Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon
Joaquin Phoenix plays the French warmonger Napoleon.
He’s the younger brother of the late River Phoenix and is known for playing dark, complex characters and has starred as The Joker and Commodus in Ridley Scott's movie Gladiator.
In Walk The Line, he played country singer Johnny Cash, plus he's starred in Mary Magdalene, Her, Hotel Rwanda, and Buffalo Soldiers.
Joaquin is also about to reprise his role as Arthur Fleck/The Joker for the sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, which is due for release in 2024.
Vanessa Kirby as Josephine
Vanessa Kirby plays Napoleon’s famous wife, the Empress Josephine. It’s not her first time playing royalty as she took on the role of Princess Margaret in the first two series of The Crown. She’s also starred in Pieces of a Woman, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Me Before You and The World to Come.
Who else stars in Napoleon on Apple TV Plus?
The remaining cast of Napoleon includes Ben Miles as Coulancourt, Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras and Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, Edouard Philipponat as Tsar Alexander, Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte and Ludvine Sagnier as Theresa Cabarrus.
Doc Martin star Ian McNiece, John Hollingworth, Scott Handy, Youssef Kerkour, Benjamin Chivers, Gavin Spokes, Sam Crane, Phil Cornwell and Davide Tucci also star.
Fact File: Who was Napoleon in world history?
Corsican-born Napoleon Bonaparte was a political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He became the French Emperor from 1804 and was one of the greatest military leaders in history, defeating Prussia, Russia, Austria and causing the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.
He led the Napoleonic Wars, during which between three and six million civilians and soldiers died. Napoleon married Josephine in 1976 and then again in 1804, this time with religious rites, but theirs was a turbulent relationship. Napoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 and was exiled by the British to Saint Helena in the Atlantic where he died in 1821, aged 51.
Ridley Scott movies
British film director and producer Sir Ridley Scott shot to fame with the 1979 sci-fi film Alien, and he's directed a huge number of features across a range of genres.
He won an Oscar for best picture for Gladiator. Here's a full list of the movies he's directed to date:
- Boy and Bicycle (1965)
- The Duellists (1977)
- Alien (1979)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Legend (1985)
- Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)
- Black Rain (1989)
- Thelma & Louise (1991)
- 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
- White Squall (1996)
- G.I. Jane (1997)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Hannibal (2001)
- Black Hawk Down (2001)
- Matchstick Men (2003)
- Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- A Good Year (2006)
- American Gangster (2007)
- Body of Lies (2008)
- Robin Hood (2010)
- Prometheus (2012)
- The Counselor (2013)
- Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
- The Martian (2015)
- Alien: Covenant (2017)
- All the Money in the World (2017)
- The Last Duel (2021)
- House of Gucci (2021)
- Napoleon (2023)
- Gladiator 2 (2024)
