Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix have joined hands for the epic Napoleon Bonaparte movie Kitbag, which is currently in early development. Scott, who has recently wrapped up production on The Last Duel starring Adam Driver, has reteamed with Phoenix after 20 years for a movie about the French military leader and emperor. In 2000, Phoenix led Scott's epic historical drama film Gladiator; the film grossed $457 million worldwide and won the Best Picture award at the 2000 Oscars. Now the director and actor have partnered again for Kitbag, prompting an instant stir among fans.
Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix's partnership over Kitbag was confirmed on Tuesday by Deadline, which also spilled some details about the movie's premise. The title for Scott's movie is reportedly inspired by the saying "There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag." The upcoming film will look at Napoleon's background and his unprecedented, fast-paced ascend to the French throne. Kitbag will also focus on Napoleon's compelling, sensational, and erratic relationship with the love of his life, his wife, Josephine. In the meanwhile, the film will also capture the French emperor's memorable battles, unabating aspirations, and exceptional military wit as a war visionary. Deadline has also confirmed that screenwriter David Scarpa is readying a script for the movie, while Scott, Scott Free, and Kevin Walsh are executive producing it.
For a film that is being directed by the four-time Oscar nominee Scott, and performed by another four-time Oscar nominee Phoenix, it's hard to imagine it going wrong. Scott and Phoenix had conjured an immensely stunning historical narrative when they had first teamed up for Gladiator and provided that Kitbag shares genre with Gladiator, it is even more difficult to believe that the film can be amiss. Phoenix has only freshly proven his acting prowess with an Oscar win for Joker, and he is primed to entertain audiences again with Mike Mills‘ A24 movie C’mon C’mon. So it's certainly a while before Kitbag can commence filming, but once it does, it will certainly take the movie industry by storm.
Source: Deadline