Historian Dan Snow has broken down the trailer for Ridley Scott’s upcoming biopic about Napoleon Bonaparte starring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.
Trailer for Napoleon released on Monday (July 10), giving fans their first look at Phoenix as the French military commander who lived from 1769 to 1821 and led France to war. won the Revolutionary War.
Film directed by fighter filmmaker Scott, which follows Napoleon’s ascension to the throne while documenting his volatile relationship with Josephine, played by Crown Vanessa Kirby star.
While viewers were blown away by the impressive trailer (and delighted by the soundtrack), Snow, 44, turned to TikTok to circumvent many of the historical inaccuracies on display.
“I love historical epics, I love Ridley Scott, I will watch this movie,” he began by saying. “[But] it’s not a documentary, we know that much!
The TV presenter began with a poster of the film with the tagline: “He came from zero. He conquered everything.”
“He didn’t come from zero. In fact, his father is an aristocrat,” corrected Snow. “He didn’t conquer everything. He has conquered quite a lot. It was impressive, but he didn’t conquer everything.
“…He did not conquer England. It’s part of ‘everything’, so…”
The trailer also reveals the execution scene of Marie Antoinette – the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She is portrayed in the film by Irish actress Catherine Walker, who is shown with long blonde locks.
“Love the scene – Marie Antoinette doesn’t look like that,” said Snow. “She was famous for her hair cut very short for executions and hey – Napoleon wasn’t there. He’s at the other end of France.”
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Among Snow’s other attractions is a scene depicting Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, which does not take place at the base of the pyramids as the trailer suggests, and Napoleon leading a cavalry attack. French soldier: “He never did this! But it looks cool.”
Snow is the author of Experience the Battle of Waterlootells the story of Napoleon’s famous defeat against the armies of the Seventh Coalition in 1815.
Fans also have some confusion about elements of the trailer. First, Phoenix spoke in his American accent while Kirby spoke in her usual British accent.
Many people also commented on the unexpected needle drop in the clip.
The trailer is punctuated by a slowed-down cover of Radiohead’s 2000 track “The National Anthem”.
Napoleon will be released in the US over Thanksgiving weekend in 2023. The series will arrive on Apple TV+ at a later date that has yet to be announced.
