He played the murderous Roman Emperor Commodus in Gladiator.
Now, two decades later, Joaquin Phoenix has reunited with Sir Ridley Scott to take on another ruthless emperor – Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Oscar-winning actor is pictured in full naval garb with gold embroidery and a matching bicorne hat as he joins hundreds of actors to reenact the French invasion of Russia in 1812 for the new historical epic Napoleon.
Joaquin Phoenix reunited with Sir Ridley Scott to confront another ruthless emperor – Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon is said to have lost about 380,000 men during the French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian Campaign, from June to December 1812.
The photos show Phoenix, 47, standing on a mound among trees at Bourne Woods in Farnham, Surrey, surrounded by soldiers and mounted horses as they fired over a two-day period in last month.
It is also the location that Sir Ridley used to film the blockbuster Gladiator in 1999.
The famous forest was granted planning permission to become a permanent filming location last year.
The photos show Phoenix watching troops with bayonets waving French flags as they prepared to fight.
Napoleon is said to have lost around 380,000 men during the French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian Campaign, from June to December 1812.
The film will chronicle Napoleon’s ascension to the throne through the perspective of his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Empress Josephine Bonaparte.
The film’s previous title was Kitbag, derived from the saying: ‘There is a scepter of a general hidden in every soldier’s bag.’
The film also stars The Serpent’s Tahar Rahim, 40, as Paul Barras, and Vanessa Kirby, 33, as the Queen. The Crown actress has been brought on to replace Jodie Comer.
The famous forest was granted planning permission to become a permanent filming location last year
The film will chronicle Napoleon’s ascension to the throne through the perspective of his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Empress Josephine Bonaparte.
It is also the location that Sir Ridley used to film the blockbuster Gladiator in 1999.
Miss Kirby’s involvement was announced in January, with the actress claiming she was ‘honored’ to be joining Sir Ridley in the epic film.
Sir Ridley had previously examined Napoleon’s territory with his 1977 feature film, The Duellists – about two French officers who fought during Napoleon’s reign.
“Napoléon is someone I have always been fascinated with,” he told Deadline last year.
‘He’s out of nowhere to rule things – but all the while he’s waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine.
‘He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldn’t, he conquered it to destroy her, and destroy himself in the process.’
He added: ‘No actor can portray Napoleon like Joaquin.
‘He’s created one of the most complicated Queens in cinematic history in Gladiator, and we’re going to create another character with his Napoleon. “
Napoleon is scheduled to release on Apple TV+ in 2023.
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk
