Apple has released the trailer for the biopic about the infamous French ruler from the historical epic maestro Ridley Scott. Napoleon showcases the conqueror on his conquest for Europe and the opposition he faces, not just from external figures but from internal ones as well. Scott is no stranger to grand-scale period pieces, having directed such films as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Exodus: Gods and Kings and The Last Duel. He brings his signature gritty tone to the story of one of the world’s strongest military minds.
The official synopsis from Apple 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.
The film stars Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role of the French emperor. Phoenix is joined by Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine, as well as Tahar Rahim, Mark Bonnar, Rupert Everett, and Youssef Kerkour. Ridley Scott directs Napoleon from a script by David Scarpa. The producers on board include Kevin J. Walsh, Mark Huffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Ridley Scott. The executive producers of the film are Raymond Kirk, Aidan Elliott, and Michael Pruss.
The biopic will be released by Apple in association with Sony Pictures Entertainment. The film is set to have a worldwide theatrical launch on November 22. After the run in cinemas, Napoleon will then stream globally on AppleTV+. Napoleon will be joining Apple’s other big awards season release, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, as they both embark on an ambitious conquest to mount a successful theatrical showing for the Academy’s contention before being available exclusively on the streaming platform.
In addition, it was recently announced that Killers of the Flower Moon would be released in IMAX formats, which is a rarity for a Scorsese movie. And with this trailer, Apple has revealed that Napoleon will also be screened in IMAX theaters, which should complement the large scope of the greatest battles in the history of the world.