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Date set for Napoleon film featuring Cathedral to hit cinemas

The date has been set for the upcoming Napoleon epic, starring Joaquin Phoenix, to arrive in UK cinemas[1]. Originally titled Kitbag, the historical drama[2] will tell the story of the French emperor’s rise to power and his marriage to Joséphine Bonaparte.

Before its debut on the Apple+ streaming service, director Ridley Scott’s latest period film will be released in cinemas across the country on Wednesday, November 22. And eagle-eyed Lincolnshire[3] viewers may recognise the stand-in for the Notre-Dame as somewhere a little closer to home than the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France.

Though much of the film has been shot in Malta and in stately homes in England, Lincoln Cathedral[4] was transformed into the 1,000-year-old French cathedral for two days in March last year. Logistical teams spent a week preparing the cathedral, and the county council was expecting several hundred cast and crew members to be in the city for the brief shoot.

Lincolnians stood by and watched, eager to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars such as Joaquin Phoenix and The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby. Traders nearby made sure they were open for business and said they were both happy to see film crews back in Lincoln and hopeful that the Oscar-winning lead actor would swing by to grab a bite to eat.[6]

Scenes for Ridley Scott's biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte were filmed in Lincoln in March last year
Scenes for Ridley Scott’s biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte were filmed in Lincoln in March last year

During the two days of filming, the cathedral was closed to visitors. Phoenix previously worked with Ridley Scott, who garnered acclaim in the 1970s and early 1980s with science-fiction thrillers Alien and Blade Runner, on 2000’s Gladiator.

The pair also partly produced the film, alongside executive producers Michael Pruss and Adrian Elliott. As well as recounting the early years of the military general and eventual emperor through six bloody battles, it will also focus on his volatile relationship with his first wife, Empress Joséphine (Vanessa Kirby).

A runtime for the film has not yet been confirmed.

References

  1. ^ UK cinemas (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  2. ^ historical drama (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  3. ^ Lincolnshire (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  4. ^ Lincoln Cathedral (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  5. ^ “We’re hoping to catch Joaquin Phoenix” – Lincoln businesses on Hollywood arriving in city (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  6. ^ Oscar-winning lead actor would swing by to grab a bite to eat. (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)

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