Ridley Scott’s upcoming film « Napoleon » featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role may face stiff competition, as Steven Spielberg is also working on a project surrounding the French emperor. This news has generated buzz among historical film enthusiasts, and as both projects are set to release within a year or two, it seems like a healthy competition is about to take place.
Ridley Scott, the renowned director of movies like « Blade Runner » and « Gladiator, » is directing the movie « Napoleon » with Joaquin Phoenix in the actor’s chair. It is a highly anticipated historical biopic that has drawn the attention of history buffs and film enthusiasts alike. The movie’s subject matter is quite interesting, as it delves into the life of Napoléon Bonaparte, the famous French military general turned emperor.
However, news about Steven Spielberg’s project has thrown a spanner in the works. While attending the Berlinale, an event in Berlin where he was honored for his contributions to the film industry, Spielberg revealed that he had been working on a series about Napoléon for the past ten years. He also mentioned that he would be producing the project in collaboration with HBO and that it would consist of seven episodes.
The original script of this project was created by Stanley Kubrick in the 1980s. At the time, the movie’s production was planned to take place across multiple countries, with almost 4,000 actors expected to participate. However, after the failure of the movie « Waterloo, » the studios were reluctant to work on such a large project about Napoléon.
As a result, Spielberg will build upon Kubrick’s original script to create his series. While the film and the series are set to tell the same story, the differences lie in their scope and scale. The movie is expected to cover Napoléon’s rise to power and his marriage, while the series explores the details of his life in more depth.
Both projects are highly anticipated, but the movie « Napoleon » is ahead in terms of production. Filming for the movie has concluded, and it is set to release later this year or early 2024. On the other hand, it may take several more years for Spielberg’s series to finish production, given the inherent complexity and scope of the project.
It remains to be seen which project will be more popular among audiences, but the competition is generating excitement among fans of historical movies and series. With these two projects set to release within a year or two, it seems that we will be getting our fill of Napoléon Bonaparte for some time to come.