The Epic 'Napoleon' Trailer Chronicles the Famous French General's Rise to Power

For all that French general turned emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is one of history's most famous figures, the entertainment world has yet to produce a definitive onscreen version of his story. (Not for lack of desire — even Stanley Kubrick was trying to make a Napoleon movie back in the 1960s!) But, at long last, that appears to be about to change with Apple TV+'s upcoming film Napoleon, a sweeping historical drama from director Ridley Scott that aims to showcase the iconic French general's visionary strategic and military prowess alongside the intense love story that would come to define much of his life.

Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) reunites with his former Gladiator director to play Napoleon in this action-filled story that follows his swift rise to prominence during the French Revolution, a road that would ultimately lead to him crowning himself Emperor of the French. The Crown alum Vanessa Kirby plays Napoleon's wife, Josephine de Beauharnais; the film will attempt to provide greater depth and context to his story by focusing on his addictive and often volatile relationship with her. (Despite his impressive strategic mind and outsize ambition, it's unlikely he would have ever become the leader he did if not for her presence in his life.)

Josephine was six years older than Napoleon when the two married in 1796, and she became empress when her husband took the title of emperor in 1804. Though he loved his wife deeply, the two divorced in 1810 due to Josephine's inability to give him an heir. But he remained in love with her and reportedly locked himself in a room for two full days at the news of her death just four years later.