Napoleon, expected for next November 22 at the cinema, could benefit from a very long version after its theatrical release.
On November 22, Napoleon will land in theaters, embodied by a Joaquin Phoenix who promises to be inhabited by the role. Ridley Scott’s film is one of the most anticipated of the year, especially since the reveal of its epic trailer last July.
This historical fresco around this major character in the history of France will last 2 hours and 38 minutes in its cinema version. Asked by the empire magazineRidley Scott has announced that a long version could well see the light of day.
Indeed, the director of Gladiator or Thelma and Louise has many hours of rushes; with all this material, he has enough to make a 4 hour and 30 minute montage! According to Ridley Scott, this long version would be “fantastic” and would contain “many more scenes with Joséphine de Beauharnais before she met Napoleon.”
The filmmaker did not specify how this director’s cut would be visible. As a blu-ray bonus, in streaming, divided into several episodes? We will have to be patient before we know more.
As for Joaquin Phoenix, he specifies that Napoleon had a life “so extraordinary” that drastic choices had to be made for this feature film. “Let’s hope that we have been able to capture the most interesting moments”, he said. A month ago, the actor also mentioned his difficulties in understanding the character of the Emperor, almost wanting to abandon this titanic challenge before filming.
“Joaquin Phoenix came up to me and said, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ sat down for 10 days, we spent time going through the script scene by scene. In a way, it’s like we’re rehearsing. We tackled everything in great detail.”said Ridley Scott.
In addition, the director himself had complicated moments when constructing the character of Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s great love. “What was so complicated with Joséphine was that she was elusive. Everything I could read about her, documents, testimonies, letters from Napoleon… Each book was completely different”said Ridley Scott.
Joaquin studied his psychology, and that of Napoleon was really special. The film will make you feel that. There was a certain intensity to his mode of operation.
In the columns of Empire, Vanessa Kirby (Joséphine) also evoked the pitfalls inherent in the interpretation of such complex historical characters. “Joaquin studied his psychology, and Napoleon’s was really particular. The film will make you feel that. There was a certain intensity in the way he operated. Russell Crowe in Gladiator”explains the actress.
“He was truly a dictator, a war criminal. That shouldn’t be played down, because this man killed hundreds of millions of men. From my point of view for no reason. Why did he do that? “To have an empire? But for what purpose? In the end, it all fell apart. His psychology was dangerous, really strange, and we’re trying to paint that picture.”she concluded.
Napoleon will be released on November 22, 2023 in France.