The month of October 2023 will be a feast for movie lovers, as two of the most acclaimed directors in cinema history, Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese, will release their latest epic films, Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon, respectively. Both films are co-produced by Apple TV+, which has invested heavily in original content to compete with other streaming platforms.
Napoleon: Ridley Scott’s Vision of the French Emperor
Napoleon is an epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Scarpa, based on the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann1 The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of the French, and features Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, and Rupert Everett in supporting roles1
The film depicts Napoleon’s rise to power through the lens of his addictive and volatile relationship with Empress Joséphine, played by Kirby1 The film also explores Napoleon’s military campaigns, political intrigues, and personal ambitions that shaped his legacy as one of the most influential figures in history1
Napoleon is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States and the United Kingdom on November 22, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing, before streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date1 The film will also be screened in IMAX theaters2
Scott, who is known for his epic films such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Exodus: Gods and Kings, has been fascinated by Napoleon’s life for decades. He said in an interview that he wanted to make a film that would capture the essence of Napoleon’s character and his impact on the world.
Scott also revealed that he finished shooting Napoleon in just 62 days, which is remarkable considering that the film has six epic battle sequences. He attributed this to his efficient use of multiple cameras and digital technology. He said: “I can do Gladiator 2 now in 54 days, because I’m not doing 50 takes with one camera, on one shot, and then turning around. This normal fight [scene] that could take anything up to a month, I’ll take six days. So the savings are colossal.”
Killers of the Flower Moon: Martin Scorsese’s True Crime Saga
Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic Western crime drama film directed and produced by Martin Scorsese, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, based on the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann3 The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone, with Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser in supporting roles3
The film is based on a true story of a series of murders of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma during the 1920s, after oil was discovered on their land. The film follows the investigation of the crimes by the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led by a young J. Edgar Hoover (Plemons) and a Texas Ranger (DiCaprio), who uncovers a conspiracy involving a powerful rancher (De Niro) and his nephew (Fraser), who is married to an Osage woman (Gladstone)3
Killers of the Flower Moon premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023 to widespread critical acclaim for its screenplay, score, cinematography, production design, and performances of DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone4 It is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on October 20, 2023, by Apple TV+ (under their Apple Original Films label) and Paramount Pictures4 The film will also be screened in IMAX theaters2 It is also set for an unspecified streaming release on Apple TV+5
Scorsese, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, has directed some of the most acclaimed films in cinema history such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Irishman. He has collaborated with DiCaprio six times and with De Niro ten times before Killers of the Flower Moon6
Scorsese said that he was drawn to the story of Killers of the Flower Moon because it exposed a dark and hidden chapter of American history that he was not aware of. He said: “It’s a story that is so American, and yet it’s a story that has been buried. It’s a story that has been erased. It’s a story that has been forgotten. And I think it’s important to tell it.”
Scorsese also said that he rewrote the script of Killers of the Flower Moon with Roth so that it was not just about the white characters, but also about the Osage people and their culture. He said: “We had to rethink the whole thing, because the book is very much about the white guys. And I said, ‘No, no, no, this is about the Osage. This is their story.’”
Two Masterpieces from Two Masters
Both Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon are expected to be major contenders for the upcoming awards season, as they showcase the talents of two master directors and their star-studded casts. Both films are also examples of how Apple TV+ is investing in high-quality original content to attract and retain subscribers.