Kitbag: Joaquin Phoenix to Portray Napoleon Bonaparte in Ridley Scott Biopic
Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, Gladiator) is set to play Napoleon Bonaparte in Oscar nominee Ridley Scott’s (Gladiator, The Martian) upcoming biopic Kitbag based on the 19th-century French emperor, according to Deadline. The outlet shares the film’s title stems from the saying, “There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag.”
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Directed by Scott, Kitbag is described as an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. The film will capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and “astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary.”
David Scarpa (All the Money in the World) is penning the script for the 20th Century Studios project that is being produced by Scott and Kevin Walsh for Scott Free.
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Scott has completed production on the drama The Last Duel, starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer. He’ll begin production next March in Italy on Gucci, starring Lady Gaga, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Adam Driver, and Jared Leto.
(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)