Napoleon Rises: Joaquin Phoenix's Intense Performance Takes Europe by Storm in Ridley Scott's Latest Film

The much-awaited Napoleon movie directed by Ridley Scott and featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role has finally revealed its first footage. The actor-director duo, who last worked together on the acclaimed movie Gladiator in 2000, have teamed up once again for this historical epic. Along with Phoenix, the film also stars Vanessa Kirby, who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in Pieces of a Woman, and Matthew Needham, known for his performance in House of the Dragon. This movie is slated for a theatrical release by Sony on November 22, with an eventual release on Apple TV+. During the WWDC 2023 Keynote event, Apple showcased a glimpse of the movie, featuring Phoenix as a grumpy-looking French military leader aboard a large ship. Watch the footage below (starting at 1:37:28):

What To Expect From The Napoleon Movie

In addition to showcasing the features of the Apple Vision Pro, the first advertisement also includes a thrilling scene of Phoenix's Napoleon charging into battle on horseback. This footage can be seen starting at 17 seconds into the ad, adding an exciting and dynamic element to the overall presentation.

Written by David Scarpa, the screenwriter for All the Money in the World, the upcoming Napoleon movie will showcase the French military leader's rapid ascent to power and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Empress Joséphine. Of course, no movie about Napoleon would be complete without showcasing his famous battles, cutthroat ambition, and strategic prowess as a military commander, which are all integral to his legacy. In the recently released footage, we see Napoleon leading a naval expedition to conquer Europe, while also demonstrating his skills on horseback as he charges into battle.

Despite his age of 85, the esteemed director's latest project, Napoleon, seems to be his most ambitious and action-packed historical epic yet, as hinted by the first released footage. The film promises to capture Napoleon's numerous conquests throughout Europe with graphic detail, which could potentially result in an R rating. With the exceptional talent of Academy Award-winning actor, Joker star Joaquin Phoenix, portraying the titular character, audiences can anticipate another outstanding performance. Following its theatrical release this autumn, Napoleon is scheduled to be available for streaming on Apple TV+ in early 2024.