"Next Napoleon Movie - New Cast" Topic

"Following their time together on Gladiator with Russell Crowe, actor Joaquin Phoenix and director Ridley Scott are finally re-teaming for another historical epic. Kitbag will see Phoenix playing French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and originally the plan was for The Last Duel star Jodie Comer to star opposite as Napoleon's first wife, Joséphine. As to today though, that will no longer be happening, but not to worry, as Comer's role has already been recast.

Regarding why Jodie Comer will no longer appear in Kitbag, the actress cited scheduling issues and COVID-19 as the culprits while speaking with THR, calling the turn of events "rubbish." Kitbag is set to begin shooting in Europe this January, and Comer is getting ready for rehearsals this March on the West End production Prima Facie, which will have a limited engagement from April to June. In the end, it just wasn't possible for Comer to do both these projects, so Kitbag had to go, but maybe she and Ridley Scott will be able to collaborate again down the line after working together on The Last Duel, which co-starred Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver…"
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Armand

Excellent actress though she is, will Vanessa Kirby be able to come across as the older Josephine (with the bad teeth)? Especially as Joachim Phoenix will already be a bit old to play Napoleon in the period suggested elsewhere? I'm just saying…

What are you saying?

It is a movie, created for entertainment, not a documentary so, as with all 'historical or period' movies, we sadly cannot expect 100% accuracy in the telling or the how the actual characters looked and are portrayed. We should just be grateful that someone is actually making a Napoleonic movie. And who knows, if it is well made and successful, other period films might be considered.

It is a movie, created for entertainment, not a documentary so, as with all 'historical or period' movies, we sadly cannot expect 100% accuracy in the telling or the how the actual characters looked and are portrayed. We should just be grateful that someone is actually making a Napoleonic movie. And who knows, if it is well made and successful, other period films might be considered.

Small points on realism that will in no way stop me watching (and probably loving) the film when it comes out

That's going to bump up the special effects budget – Phoenix is 47 and looks it. Typical Hollywood – they need somebody to play a woman 6 years older than the lead character so they pick a 33 year old actress (actually they picked a 28 year old). I always thought Josephine's relative age and "experience" were two of the key dynamics in their relationship?

The best thing ….. "The intention of the film is to capture Napoleon's famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary."

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Thanks

Armand

I wait with bated breath!!

Russ Dunaway

Historical dramas are starting to come back. I'll wait and see on this one. Skeptical about the story through Josephine's eyes.

I put my trust in Ridley Scott, he has made some great movies.
However, I hope he employs some good historical advisors to get the battle scenes somewhat realistic without the gasoline explosions.

Agree with the hope….

Armand

I believe the film title has been changed to Napoleon. Can't for the life of me think why? LOL

Ridley Scott's portrayal of ancient battle scenes, such as in "Kingdom of heaven" and "Gladiator", show that he pays attention to gritty, historical detail. So hopefully, we will see some realistic scenes of Napoleonic warfare, unlike the 'gasoline bombs' of the "Waterloo" film – cringe – as rightly pointed out by 'Rittmester'!

Mind you, that film was made over 50 years ago. Is it maybe unfair then to criticize it? Truth be told, I still always wince with pain when I see those ridiculous, rolling volleys of the British Guards, and the cavalry charges thundering across flat open plains to nowhere!

If only they made Napoleonic period movies for Napoleonic enthusiasts. Unfortunately they don't. They make them for the general public, which is why it is military and Napoleonic enthusiasts and wargamers who complain of cannons remaining still after firing and Vietnam type explosions going off all over the place and troops wearing the wrong uniforms etc, etc. I can imagine most film goers would accept seeing lots of flaming explosions and bodies thrown into the air, rather than a cannon ball knocking down a row of troops.

I just hope we are pleasantly surprised with the finished products and have two enjoyable entertaining Napoleonic movies to add to our period and military film collections.

yes there are so many different situations in the whole span of the napoleonic era that could be a film in its own right without trying to cover the whole period.

A film just about the crossing of the Berezina would be tense

and i am sure there were situations in the period where families had members who found themselves fighting on opposing sides even -so there is material there.

heck just the contents of Marbot's accounts as a hussar in the grande armee could be made into a film

First look at Joaquin Pheonix as Napoleon

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From here

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Armand

Compared 'The Duellists'*****, the battle scenes in Gladiator and Kingdom of heaven were spectacular but, in historical terms, were pure Hollywood**. As 'Blackhawk Down' showed Ridley Scott can convincingly depict a complex, realistic battle scene (aided of course by the actual role of helicopters in that day's action) though as we know a Napoleonic battle field would be a different kettle of soupe. Mind you, was a burst from mini-gun pods that different from a salvo of mitraille? Judging by the 'fire power' in the opening scenes of 'Gladiator,' I would hold your breath regarding 'gasoline bombs.'

Still, with the price of oil going the way it is…

Joaquin does look impressive, though.

Phoenix' costume doesn't look so good. See a better reconstruction here:

I agree the cut of the cloth is attrocious, two sizes to big – no elegance.

I did wonder about that. Possibly poured into it at short notice for PR shots.

But in the absence of photographic evidence showing people wearing late 18th/early 19th century clothing, can we be sure that the reality conformed to the images in fashion plates?

I very much doubt that ordinary British soldiers, for example, had breeches that fitted as snugly as they do in the paintings of Charles Hamilton Smith.

It looks to me a pretty faithful rendition of the painting of Napoleon at Arcole

So what's the plot of 'Kitbag'? Must look up Last Duel as well.

Richard A:

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Who will be playing Murat and Ney I would like to know

Surely the movie would have to be done as three or so films to cover the period if Scott wants to get into the details of the battles too?

I fear if we expect Napoleonic tactics, the movie will be a disappointment:

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interesting, i hope things will be better than what those pics show – there seems to be an overabundance of flags being carried by those dragoons and i am not sure they waved big Tricolor flags ever did they.

also those soldiers are supposedly in a scene for the invasion of russia? surely not?

Well, from what I've seen so far, we won't be 'pleasantly surprised' as I hoped. In fact, it might even make Sharpe's Waterloo look good. LOL

John Hollingworth will play Ney. Check IDMB for full cast. Kitbag
title has been changed to Napoleon.

Who else but a Yorkshireman could play "The Bravest of the Brave"?

why should a love story be realistic about tactics?

Is the fact a movie is primarily a love story any justification for being unrealistic about anything?

well i thought i read earlier somewhere that Scott wanted to show some of the brilliance of napoleon's generalship on the battlefield if so then some realism when it comes to tactics or at least the organisation of troops ought to be expected

and Ridley Scott hasnt been too bad with previous historical films, of course not entirely accurate but i would expect some he does to be better than the 2001 Napoleon mini-series (which wasnt too bad an effort for tv series back then)