“Napoleon” with Joaquin Phoenix: Trailer for the historical film released

Biopic of a ruler
War, intrigue, love: New trailer for the historical epic with Joaquin Phoenix as “Napoleon” released

The new trailer for the historical epic “Napoleon” with Joaquin Phoenix in the role of the revolutionary dictator promises Oscar-worthy cinema.

It’s supposed to be one of the spectacular films of the year: “Napoleon” with Joaquin Phoenix tells the life of the French emperor who shaped Europe at the beginning of the 19th century like no one before. A newly released trailer now provides insights into the historical epic by star director Ridley Scott (“Alien”): visually stunning scenes with brutal battles in a snow-covered landscape as well as successful, historical insights into Napoleon’s military and private life. The fact that the captivating storyline staged here is based on the actual story of the man in the title tops it all off.

Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte: Trailer promises great cinema

The new trailer shows Phoenix aka Napoleon and the French troops at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, fighting on frozen lakes, through a rain of bullets and in high-speed chases on horseback. At that time, the newly crowned emperor managed to defeat the Allied armies of Austria and Russia on the battlefield – and thus brought an abrupt end to the Roman Empire of the German Nation. Then there is a jump in time to Napoleon’s earlier times, when he was not yet entitled to any power or recognition as a military commander. “They just see me as a libertine. Unfit for higher positions…” he says in the clip and already knows back then: “… but I will follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.”

In addition to the later emperor’s political and military aspirations, the plot also focuses on Napoleon’s private life and, above all, on his complicated love affair with Joséphine de Beauharnais, the daughter of a sugar plantation owner on the Caribbean island of Martinique, whom he desired and actually married out of love in 1796. De Beauharnais is portrayed in the film by Vanessa Kirby (“Mission Impossible”).

Star-studded cast

In addition to Phoenix and Kirby is also impressive from the rest of the “Napoleon” cast: Tahar Rahim (“A Prophet”) takes on the role of Paul Barras, who initially supported Napoleon but was later banished by him, and Ben Miles (“Coupling”) plays the French officer Caulaincourt, Ludivine Sagnier (“Swimming Pool”) as Thérésia Cabarrus and Matthew Needham (“House of the Dragon”) as Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother and later French Interior Minister.

Also included: Youssef Kerkour, Phil Cornwell, Edouard Philipponnat, Paul Rhys, John Hollingworth, Gavin Spokes and Mark Bonnar. The script was directed by David Scarpa, who has already worked on blockbusters such as “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and the hit sci-fi series “The Man in the High Castle”.

A legendary director with an experienced production team, numerous acting stars and a storyline that couldn’t be more spectacular – the historical epic already looks Oscar-worthy.

“Napoleon” with Joaquin Phoenix will be released in German cinemas on November 22, 2023.

+++ Read also +++