First official Napoleon trailer: Joaquin Phoenix seen as the military wizard as he fights his way to become Emperor of France
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The first trailer for the long-awaited historical film Napoleon was released early Monday morning.
Joaquin Phoenix was seen in character as Napoleon Bonaparte. The 48-year-old actor looks troubled as the French military wizard as he fights his way to the pinnacle of power in France.
The trailer opens with chaos. “You have to set an example, or France will fold,” Napoleon is told. Phoenix replies, “I promise you brilliant successes.”
Next, the Emperor is seen bloodied during a fierce battle that leads to him attempting to blow up the top of a pyramid in Egypt. “I am destined for greatness,” he says, and it is then suggested that he become Emperor of France.
More battle scenes are seen as the ruler is criticized for his “lack of good manners.”
Throughout the clip, glimpses of his beautiful love wife Joséphine Bonaparte are seen as she tells him that he is nothing without her.
The film will be released on Apple TV+ on November 22, 2023.
He is here! The first trailer for the long-awaited historical film Napoleon was released early Monday morning. Joaquin Phoenix was seen in character as Napoleon Bonaparte
All eyes on Napoleon: his advice tells him how to stay in power in the early 19th century
Napoleon Bonaparte, pictured here, managed to transform France into a continent that spanned an empire and was known for his military expertise
Napoleon Bonaparte, later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a Corsica-born French military commander and political leader.
He rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars.
In the trailer he can be seen in full military uniform.
And, at 5ft 8in, Phoenix is a few inches closer to the 18th century military leader than you might think. Despite rumors of Napoleon’s petite physique, he was believed to be closer to the 5ft 7in – average height at the time.
He also first came face to face with his wife, Joséphine Bonaparte, who was Empress of the French as Emperor Napoleon I’s first wife from May 18, 1804 until their marriage was dissolved on January 10, 1810.
She occasionally falls in the trailer, and there’s even a kissing scene, as she later warns him that he’d collapse without her.
The film explores how Napoleon rose to power through his relationship with his wife Josephine.
It will see Phoenix star opposite Vanessa Kirby, who played Princess Margaret in The Crown, after Killing Eve star Jodie Comer was forced to pull out.
Warlord: The 47-year-old actor looked distressed as the French Emperor as he fought his way to the pinnacle of power in France
Wartime: The trailer opens with chaos. “You have to set an example, or France will fold,” Napoleon is told. Phoenix replies: ‘I promise you brilliant successes’
His love woman: he first comes face to face with his wife, Joséphine Bonaparte, who was Empress of the French as Emperor Napoleon I’s first wife from May 18, 1804 until their marriage was dissolved on January 10, 1810
It is also Phoenix’s first reunion with director Sir Ridley Scott since he starred in Gladiator in 2000.
The film was previously called Kitbag, a reference to the saying, “There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s equipment.”
The expression means that it is possible for any soldier to become a general.
Sir Ridley said of the film: ‘Napoleon is a man I have always been fascinated with.
“He came out of nowhere to rule everything — but all the while he was in a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine.
“He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he failed, he conquered the world to destroy it.
“No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin.”