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Napoleon director-producer Ridley Scott was on stage at Deadline’s Contenders London event to discuss the journey behind his latest epic and why he chose Joaquin Phoenix to portray the iconic Emperor.
Speaking about casting Oscar-winner Phoenix, who he had previously worked with on Gladiator [in which Phoenix played another Emperor], filmmaking legend Scott told the audience that he had always viewed Phoenix’s character in that movie as “the most sympathetic character in Gladiator, being the product of such a neglectful father.”
He continued: “I was blown away by his outrageous film Joker. I didn’t like the way it celebrated violence but Joaquin was remarkable. I thought he’d be an amazing asset to Napoleon, [not only creatively] also in a commercial sense. There were only two actors I had in mind for the role. I won’t mention the other one.”
Apple has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment for a November 22 worldwide theatrical release launch for Napoleon, the historical action epic in which Phoenix stars as French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby plays Empress Josephine. After the theatrical run, the film will stream globally on Apple TV+.
Directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, Napoleon tells the story of the French Emperor and military leader’s origins and swift, ruthless climb to emperor. That is 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.
Four-time Oscar nominee Scott revealed that he shot the movie in only 62 days. “Normally a film like this would be shot in around 110,” he revealed. “I discovered years ago that eight cameras are eight times faster. Every department has to be able to keep up with my speed. Actors don’t want to hear the story of life before each take. I discovered that early on. A well known Welsh actor once told me ‘I love what you do because you move so quickly’. You’ve got to know the geometry of the scene. If you don’t, it’ll be 3pm before your first shot gets rolling.”
Scott said that his passion for the subject was partly born out of his love of France. The filmmaker recalled visiting Saint Tropez on holiday as a teenager, “slathering myself in olive oil and getting the worst sun burn in my life”: “I’ve always enjoyed the French way of life. I’ve never forgotten the French summers. I loved Paris so much that I have an office there. My first film The Duellists was about Napoleon, though he wasn’t in it.”
The Blade Runner and Thelma And Louise filmmaker said that his approach to the film was initially visual: “There are 400 books on Napoleon, but I’m a child who looks at pictures. When you look at the paintings of French painter David, you get a history lesson from the paintings”.
Scott was joined on stage by Janty Yates, costume designer; Martin Phipps, composer; and Kate Rhodes James, casting director.
James described the chemistry between Phoenix and co-lead Vanessa Kirby: “They have an intimacy that you can’t masquerade. Vanessa has a particular quality about her: she’s highly intelligent. Josephine the character was an intelligent, manipulative survivor. There were moments in the film that the two actors improvised and it was magical. They were incredible together.”
Yates, a regular collaborator with Scott, said that historical accuracy was key to the project: “Normally we research the granny out of our subject then put our own spin on it. Accuracy was everything on this movie. For example, there was embroidery ordered for very specific generals from Russia, Prussia, Britain, France and more…”
An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, Napoleon is produced by Scott, Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.
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