One of the year’s most anticipated films is definitely “Napoleon.” Though his recent output hasn’t been as consistent as we’d like, there’s no denying Ridley Scott is one of the best filmmakers of the past several decades. Not only is he behind the camera for the historical epic, but we also get Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. And though Phoenix and Scott had already previously worked together, the filmmaker was inspired to cast the actor based on one of his more recent performances.
Speaking to Deadline, Ridley Scott talked about the development of “Napoleon” and why he was inclined to cast Joaquin Phoenix in the title role. Apparently, the filmmaker watched “Joker” and thought the actor was “remarkable.” Obviously, the Oscar win for Phoenix is proof that the actor deserves all the acclaim for that performance. However, don’t take Scott’s enjoyment of Phoenix’s “Joker” performance as a recommendation for the film. In fact, the filmmaker has a major issue with Todd Phillips’ billion-dollar hit.
“I was blown away by his outrageous film, ‘Joker,’” said Scott. “I didn’t like the way it celebrated violence, but Joaquin was remarkable. I thought he’d be an amazing asset to ‘Napoleon,’ [not only creatively] also in a commercial sense. There were only two actors I had in mind for the role. I won’t mention the other one.”
Ridley Scott is quickly entering his “I don’t give a fuck” portion of his career. This is a filmmaker who has created multiple iconic films and gone on to inspire a new generation of creators. So, he doesn’t see the point in sugar-coating his critiques of films. Clearly, “Joker” wasn’t his cup of tea, due to the violence. And he’s not wrong for criticizing that film’s view of violence. It is a topic that has raged on since “Joker” was released back in 2019. But even still, Scott needs his big-budget “Napoleon” to be a hit, so he knows Phoenix provides enough star power to interest people in the film.
Now, will Scott’s business acumen result in a big win for the filmmaker? Will “Napoleon” be another massive hit for both big names involved? We’ll have to wait and see when the film arrives in theaters on November 22.