Napoleon's invasion of Surrey! 22 years after Ridley Scott shot Gladiator in same woods near Farnham, he’s directing Joaquin Phoenix’s assault on Russia
- Pictures show Joaquin Phoenix in full navy military regalia as he joined cast members to recreate the French invasion of Russia in 1812 for film Napoleon
- It is being filmed in the same place Sir Ridley used to shoot Gladiator in 1999
- The historical epic will document Napoleon’s ascension to Emperor through the perspective of his volatile relationship with his wide Josephine Bonaparte
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 was pictured in full navy military regalia with gold embroidery and a matching bicorne hat as he joined hundreds of cast members to recreate the French invasion of Russia in 1812 for new historical epic Napoleon.
Joaquin Phoenix has reunited with Sir Ridley Scott to take on another ruthless emperor – Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon is believed to have lost around 380,000 men during the French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian Campaign, from June to December 1812
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Pictures show Phoenix, 47, standing on a mound among the trees on location in Bourne Woods in Farnham, Surrey, surrounded by soldiers and mounted horses as they shot over a two day period last month.
It is the same location Sir Ridley used to shoot blockbuster Gladiator in 1999.
The popular woodland was granted planning permission to be a permanent filming location last year.
Pictures show Phoenix watching over his bayonet-carrying troops waving the French flag as they prepare to fight.
Napoleon is believed 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 document Napoleon’s ascension to Emperor through the perspective of his volatile relationship with his wife, Empress Josephine Bonaparte.
The film’s previous title was Kitbag, derived from the saying: ‘There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag.’
It also stars The Serpent’s Tahar Rahim, 40, as Paul Barras and Vanessa Kirby, 33, as the Empress. The Crown actress was roped in to replace Jodie Comer.
The popular woodland was granted planning permission to be a permanent filming location last year
The film will document Napoleon’s ascension to Emperor through the perspective of his volatile relationship with his wife, Empress Josephine Bonaparte
It is the same location Sir Ridley used to shoot blockbuster Gladiator in 1999.
Miss Kirby’s involvement was announced in January, with the actress claiming she was ‘honoured’ to be joining Sir Ridley on the epic production.
Sir Ridley previously examined Napoleonic territory with his 1977 feature film, The Duellists – which is about two French officers who fought during the reign of Napoleon.
‘Napoleon is a man I’ve always been fascinated by,’ he told Deadline last year.
‘He came out of nowhere to rule everything – but all the while he was 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 destroyed himself in the process.’
He added: ‘No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin.
‘He created one of movie history’s most complex Emperors in Gladiator, and we’ll create another with his Napoleon.’
Napoleon is scheduled to be released on Apple TV+ in 2023.
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