UPDATE [30/01/21] Joaquin Phoenix will take on the role of Napoleon Bonaparte in Ridley Scottโs Kitbag, which is now scheduled for release via Apple TV+.
Joaquin Phoenix will once again be portraying an emperor for Ridley Scott in the directorโs upcoming Napoleon Bonaparte biopic: Kitbag. Hopefully, Phoenix and Scott will somehow be able to recreate the cinematic magic captured in Gladiator โ wherein the former portrayed the villainous Ancient Roman ruler Commodus opposite Russell Croweโs iconic Maximus Decimus Meridius.
While Napoleon himself wasnโt exactly cut from the same cloth as Commodus, he did have quite a ruthless ascension to becoming emperor of France. As to be expected, Kitbag starring Joaquin Phoenix will explore how Napoleon was one of historyโs most brilliant military minds with a legendary talent for strategy. So we should expect some pretty astonishing full-scale battle sequences.
And as per Deadline, the entire film will also be viewed through the prism of his โaddictive and often volatileโ relationship with his wife, Josephine (thereโs a joke somewhere here about all being fair in love and war). The role of Josephine, however, has not yet been officially cast.
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At this point in time, youโre probably wondering why the hell Scott has chosen to dub this project Kitbag of all things. The film apparently derives its title from the saying: โThere is a generalโs staff hidden in every soldierโs kitbag.โ โ which is a clear allusion to Napoleonโs connection to the military, though certainly a far-less-clear adage. But who am I to judgeโฆ I wasnโt the dude who gifted the world with Gladiator.
Kitbagโs screenplay has been penned by David Scarpa who Ridley Scott has previously collaborated with in his last film All The Money In The World. Prior to that, you may have encountered Scarpaโs work in the form of Amazon Prime Videoโs hit series, The Man In The High Castle, of which he served as co-showrunner.
