Napoleon Trailer Makes a Bid for Conquest

Movies

The Emperor has arrived, as Sony has released a trailer for Napoleon. The upcoming film from legendary director Ridley Scott examines Napoleon Bonaparte’s military career and rise to power in France, as well as his marriage to Joséphine Bonaparte. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Napoleon, with Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine; Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ian McNeice, Ludivine Sagnier, and Paul Rhys also star. Napoleon will arrive in theaters on November 22, 2023, and will stream on Apple TV+ at an undetermined date sometime later. You can see the trailer below:

To each his own, but I don’t know how anyone can watch that trailer and decide to wait till Napoleon comes to Apple TV+, because this movie looks incredible. Just the glimpse the trailer affords shows Ridley Scott in peak form, depicting massive battles in beautiful landscapes, imposing images of Napoleon even when he does something as simple as ascend a flight of stairs – albeit after having seized control of France – and beautiful women lit by candlelight. And I have no doubt Joaquin Phoenix will mesmerize in the role; I’m glad Scott didn’t just go the caricature route and get someone noticeably short to play Napoleon (who wasn’t as short as he’s often depicted in real life; he was taller than Robespierre, and nobody talks about his height). Vanessa Kirby’s casting is interesting; she’s noticeably younger than Phoenix, whereas Joséphine was actually several years older than Napoleon. Maybe they’ll use makeup, or simply not address it because there’s conquering to do. But regardless, I’m jittery to see this movie.

And think about this: while Joaquin Phoenix’s Napoleon is waging war from the emperor’s throne, Russell Crowe’s Jack Aubrey is fighting his naval forces for England. Somewhere, someone’s got to be pounding away at some semi-historical fan fiction right now, or the internet was a mistake.