Ridley Scott’s director’s cut of his 2023 historical epic Napoleon has landed on Apple TV+.
Apple Original Films has released a new version with 48 minutes of never-before-seen footage from the Oscar-nominated tentpole. Napoleon: The Director’s Cut stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and dives deeper into the origins and ascent of the military leader through the prism of his often volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby.
The director’s cut also focuses on Josephine’s own origin story with what Apple promises are more extravagant costumes, new larger-than-life sets and the previously unreleased Battle of Marengo scene. The original Napoleon film, with a screenplay by David Scarpa, spanned three decades of European history as the military commander triumphed in the Revolutionary Wars and rose to become Emperor of France in 1804, only to end his life in exile.
Napoleon featured sweeping battlefield scenes chronicling the French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars, eventually becoming the Emperor of France in 1804. In addition to Phoenix as the original short French king, Napoleon also stars Ben Miles, Matthew Needham, Tahar Rahim, Youssef Kerkour and Phil Cornwell, among others.
Scott’s director’s cut offer more details about Napoleon’s demise, from his attempted assassination to his failed invasion of Russia. Napoleon: The Director’s Cut is an Apple Studios production along with Scott Free Productions.
Scott directed the latest version and produced with Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.
