Ridley Scott on how Joaquin Phoenix became Napoleon: "I saw him how we worked on Gladiator, and what journey he went on"

Director Ridley Scott and Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix are receiving phenomenal global reviews for their upcoming spectacle-filled action epic, Napoleon, which brings forth the story of history's greatest warrior and emperor. The film details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

Ridley Scott on how Joaquin Phoenix became Napoleon: "I saw him how we worked on Gladiator, and what journey he went on"

 

Talking about how he found his Napoleon, director Ridley Scott shares that for him it was after seeing Joaquin’s Academy Award-winning performance in Joker that he was reminded of their collaboration on Gladiator, and knew that he would be perfect for the role, the director shared, ‘I saw him and it all came flooding back – how we worked on Gladiator, and what journey he went on with that character, and I thought, ‘God damn, there’s Napoleon.’”

 

Speaking to Deadline, Ridley said, " I’m thinking, who can Napoleon be? Joaquin looks like Napoleon. I didn’t say that to him, I didn’t want to make him feel too important. I was blown away by his outrageous performance as Joker. I didn’t like the way the film condoned violence, and celebrated violence. I didn’t like that. But he was remarkable, and the fact he’d done that already made him a very good asset to sell the film. Napoleon, I’m also thinking commercial. It could only have been two people and I won’t mention the other actor because they may get pissed off."

 

Napoleon 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.

 

Sony Pictures Entertainment India releases Napoleon on 24th November 2023 in English and Hindi, only in cinemas.

 

ALSO READ: Napoleon Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix appears in the titular French conqueror in Ridley Scott directorial, watch video

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