Napoleon: release date, cast, storyline, trailer release, and everything you need to know.

Napoleon is a 2023 epic historical drama film written and directed by David Scarpa and co-produced by Ridley Scott. Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon, while Vanessa Kirby plays Joséphine Bonaparte. The film is based on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte and mostly shows his ascent to power and marriage to her.

Napoleon was revealed by Scott as his upcoming project in October 2020. After the COVID-19 epidemic caused delays and recastings, filming in England started in February 2022 and lasted for several months. Often working with writer David Scarpa, other regular collaborators on Scott projects were editor Claire Simpson and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski.

Napoleon had its world premiere on November 14, 2023, at Salle Pleyel in Paris. On November 22, 2023, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Releasing, distributed the film in the US and the UK. On March 1, 2024, Apple TV+ began streaming Napoleon. With a $221 million global box office haul, the movie has garnered mixed reviews from critics who praised its fight scenes and acting but condemned it for being inaccurate in historical details. The movie was nominated for Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design at the 96th Academy Awards.

Napoleon plot

Amidst the French Revolution in 1793, Napoleon Bonaparte, a young army commander, witnesses Marie Antoinette’s beheading by guillotine. Napoleon is given command of the Siege of Toulon later that year by Revolutionary commander Paul Barras; he attacks the city and uses artillery to resist the British ships. Following the overthrow and execution of Maximilien Robespierre at the conclusion of the Reign of Terror, Napoleon and other French leaders try to bring about stability again. Napoleon puts down the royalist uprising on 13 Vendémiaire in 1795, once more with artillery.
Napoleon eventually marries Joséphine de Beauharnais, an aristocratic widow. They have a sexually active life but are childless.

He wins the Battle of the Pyramids in Egypt in 1798 once more, but he immediately leaves when he finds out Joséphine is seeing Hippolyte Charles, who is about ten years Joséphine’s junior. The Directory berates him for leaving his soldiers behind, but he also denounces them for their inadequate governance of France. Along with several accomplices, including Talleyrand, Fouché, Sieyès, and Ducos, he overthrows them in the Coup of 18 Brumaire and ascends to the position of First Consul.
In 1804, Napoleon boldly dons the crown on his own head after the pope crowns him Emperor of France.

With a duration of almost two and a half hours, the film mostly centers on the tumultuous relationship that existed between Napoleon and Josephine as the former gained power during the French Revolution.

Napoleon is an action-packed, spectacle-filled epic that tells the story of the legendary French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, as portrayed by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix. This is the official summary.

“Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”

ssNapoleon cast 

Joaquin Phoenix portrays the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Vanessa Kirby as Napoleon’s first wife and Empress Joséphine, Empress Consort.
Paul Barras, a statesman who led the Directory as its executive head during the French Revolution, was portrayed by Tahar Rahim.

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, played by Rupert Everett. Ben Miles as Napoleon’s trusted advisor and diplomat Armand de Caulaincourt. Lucine Sagnier as socialite and noblewoman Thérésa Cabarrus (Madame Tallien). Matthew Needham portraying Napoleon’s brother Lucien Bonaparte. John Hollingworth as Marshal Ney, recognized by Napoleon as “the bravest of the brave”. Youssef Kerkour as one of Napoleon’s best generals, Marshal Davout. Sinéad Cusack as Napoleon’s mother Letizia Bonaparte.
Abbé Sieyès, played by Julian Rhind-Tutt.

Phil Cornwell as Sanson the Bourreau, the French king Louis XVI’s executioner by guillotine.
Édouard Philipponnat as Russia’s Tsar Alexander I
Jannis Niewöhner portraying Charles Hippolyte

During the Bourbon Restoration, which followed Napoleon’s exile to Elba, Ian McNeice played Louis XVIII, King of France, while Miles Jupp portrayed Emperor Francis II and Edward Bennett played Royalist follower Jean de Cambaceres.
Paul Rhys as France’s top diplomat, Talleyrand. Catherine Walker in the role of Marie-Antoinette, the future Queen of France, and Archduchess of Austria.
Gavin Spoke as the politician Moulin from the Directory.
Napoleon’s general Jean-Andoche Junot, played by Mark Bonnar, led the French invasion of Portugal in 1807.
Napoleon’s second wife, the Archduchess Marie-Louise, was played by Anna Mawn.

Napoleon release date

Napoleon made its global premiere in theaters on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, and will be available for streaming pay-per-view beginning on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. It will also be available on Apple TV Plus.

Who else is starring in Napoleon on Apple TV+

Ben Miles as Coulancourt, Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras, Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, Edouard Philipponat as Tsar Alexander, Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte, and Ludvine Sagnier as Theresa Cabarrus make up the remaining cast of Napoleon.

Star of Doc Martin Other stars include Davide Tucci, Ian McNiece, John Hollingworth, Scott Handy, Youssef Kerkour, Benjamin Chivers, Gavin Spokes, Sam Crane, and Phil Cornwell.

Fact File: Who was Napoleon in world history?

Born in Corsica A political figure who gained notoriety during the French Revolution was Napoleon Bonaparte. One of the greatest military commanders in history, he overthrew Prussia, Russia, Austria, and the Holy Roman Empire to become the Emperor of France in 1804. Approximately three to six million soldiers and citizens lost their lives under his leadership throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon wed Josephine twice, first in 1804 via religious ceremonies and again in 1976, but their union was tumultuous. After losing to the Duke of Wellington in June 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was banished by the British to Saint Helena in the Atlantic, where he passed away at the age of 51 in 1821.

Who stars in Napoleon?

Ben Miles as Caulaincourt, Mark Bonnar as Junot, Vanessa Kirby as Josephine Bonaparte, Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, Edouard Philipponnat as Tsar Alexander, Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington, and Mark Bonnar as Junot join Joaquin Phoenix in Napoleon.

Is there a Napoleon trailer?

To get a taste of what to expect, watch the first trailer for Napoleon below. From the looks of it, there will be plenty of epic naval battles, courtly dances, political scheming, and more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBmWztLPp9c

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, a new trailer for the movie was unveiled. It highlighted both the film’s scope and the troubled relationship between Napoleon and Josephine.

The trailer is seen below.

Napoleon will debut in UK theaters on November 22, 2023, and thereafter it will stream on Apple TV+. Get a free seven-day trial of Apple TV+ now.

See what is on by exploring our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or by exploring more of our Film coverage.
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All about Ridley Scott

In 1979, British filmmaker and producer Sir Ridley Scott became well-known for the science fiction picture Alien. Subsequently, he directed films such as Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Thelma & Louise, The Martian, Blade Runner, and Kingdom of Heaven. For Gladiator, he took home the best picture Oscar. In 2021, Lady Gaga starred under Ridley in the film House of Gucci, which chronicled the fashion icon’s assassination.

Vanessa Kirby as Josephine

Vanessa Kirby portrays Empress Josephine, Napoleon’s well-known spouse. She played Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown, so this isn’t her first time playing a royal. In addition, she starred in the films Me Before You, The World to Come, Pieces of a Woman, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

When might Napoleon be released on Apple TV+?

The movie will subsequently, at a time to be announced, be available on Apple TV+ following its theatrical run.

We will update this page as soon as that is ready, but it looks like it might not be for a few months, like what happened with Apple’s other major release of the year, Killers of the Flower Moon.

A four-hour director’s cut will also be available on the platform, Ridley Scott disclosed.

Scott said in an interview with Total Film, “I’m working on it. This morning, it was four [hours] and ten [minutes]. Thus, the plan is to show [the theatrical edit] with Sony first, after which it will have its run, and—perfectly—the director’s cut will be made available on streaming

services.