Ridley Scott Says He Has a 4 1/2 Hour Cut of NAPOLEON That He Hopes Gets Screened One Day
Director Ridley Scott is just months away from releasing his latest big screen epic, Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The movie is described as “a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte” The film “captures Bonaparte's relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”
With such a meaty story, the film boasts a long runtime of 157 minutes, just over two and a half hours, but that’s nothing compared to the director’s cut of the film that Scott told Empire Magazine about. Scott revealed he has a “fantastic” cut of Napoleon that is approximately 270 minutes long and gives Vanessa Kirby’s character more screen time.
The magazine reports that Scott is hopeful that Apple Studios will eventually screen the 4.5-hour cut. That’s quite a runtime! It would probably be good to stream so that people can watch it in segments. It’s a lot to ask from theater-goers, and it probably wouldn’t be worth the release. But for those fascinated by the historical film, the extra footage would probably be appreciated.
Napoleon is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2023.