Napoleon (2023 film)

On October 14, 2020, the same day his film The Last Duel (2021) wrapped filming, Ridley Scott announced Kitbag as his next project for 20th Century Studios, which he would direct and produce from a screenplay written by Scott's All the Money in the World (2017) collaborator David Scarpa. The film's title was derived from the saying, "There is a general's staff hidden in every soldier's kitbag." Joaquin Phoenix was reportedly attached to star as the French general and emperor Napoléon, reuniting him with the director after Gladiator in 2000.[17] Scott had Phoenix and another actor he has refused to reveal in mind to play Napoleón, but felt "blown away" by Phoenix's remarkable performance in the 2019 film Joker and concluded that Phoenix could be an "amazing asset" for Napoleon, both creatively and commercially.[18] In January 2021, Apple Studios announced its commitment to finance and produce the film, with shooting scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom in 2022. "Napoleon is a man I've always been fascinated by", Scott said in a statement. "He came out of nowhere to rule everything — but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Joséphine. He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldn't, he conquered it to destroy her, and destroyed himself in the process."[19]

The Last Duel actress Jodie Comer was reportedly Scott's first choice to play Empress Joséphine. She entered negotiations to star in March 2021, confirmed her casting in September, and said: "I just jumped at the chance to work with Ridley and his team again and the idea of working with Joaquin, who's someone who I hugely admire... I'm so excited to delve into that world."[20][21] In November, she said her role was "going to be another huge challenge, but what I love about period dramas is that kind of transformation. Even now, doing some costume and hair tests for Kitbag, it's just so exciting because it becomes so much easier to step out of yourself and into somebody else."[22] The same month, Youssef Kerkour was confirmed to star.[23]

On January 4, 2022, Comer revealed her departure from the film due to scheduling changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Vanessa Kirby was announced as her replacement later that day.[6] On January 18, 2022, producer Kevin J. Walsh said the film had been retitled Napoleon.[24] In February, Tahar Rahim was added to the cast, in the role of Paul Barras.[25] The historian Lorris Chevalier who worked on The Last Duel became the historical advisor.[26]

Initial filming took place at Lincoln Cathedral.

Production began in February 2022.[25] The film will feature six major battle sequences, unlike Waterloo (1970), another film featuring Napoleon, that focused on a single battle.[27] Napoleon was shot under the working title Marengo, a reference to the Battle of Marengo (1800).[28] Filming took place in Lincoln, England in March 2022.[29] The crew reportedly spent a week to prepare Lincoln Cathedral, which stood in for Notre-Dame de Paris. Shooting took place in the cathedral on March 17 and 18, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.[30][31][32]

The film tapped former paratrooper Paul Biddiss, the military advisor from 1917, to help bring its battle sequences to life.

Filming also took place at other English locations: Stowe Avenue and House, Buckinghamshire;[33] West Wycombe Park, Buckinghamshire;[34][35] Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire;[36] Petworth House, Sussex;[37] Boughton House, Kettering;[38] and Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London.[39]

It was also shot in Malta for three weeks, starting in May 2022. Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara was transformed into the site of 1793's siege of Toulon, where Napoleon had his first victory.[40][41][42]