Napoleon Movie Writer Prefers Theatrical Release to 4-Hour Cut

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Napoleon Movie Writer Prefers Theatrical Release to 4-Hour Cut

A four-hour cut of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is on the horizon, but according to writer David Scarpa, he thinks the theatrical film is where the movie really shines.

Speaking to IndieWire, Scarpa was asked about whether or not he was upset about anything that may have been cut, and if he’d seed a longer version of the film. Scarpa acknowledged he did, but that he thinks the “tighter form” of the theatrical cut works better.

“I have seen what’s in the longer version. It works better, like most movies, in a tighter form,” said Scarpa. “It gained a lot through the editing. Forget what’s on the cutting room floor, there’s also what is not there from earlier drafts, a ton of stuff never wound up going before the camera. There were other battles and those I’m glad because we would have bogged down. But, all kinds of material that we generated.”

Scarpa went on to say that, when making a film for the big screen, there was just no way to tell the entire story of Napoleon and that cuts had to be made.

“And then ultimately, we had to make choices in terms of what got shot, but also what winds up in the cut. I don’t think there’s any way that in the format of a feature film that you can possibly tell the entirety of this story,” Scarpa said. “You could easily do five seasons of a series on Napoleon, and still not get to the end of it, in terms of the material. So inevitably, you have to make choices. And this is a pretty concise version.

What is Napoleon about?

Ridley Scott is directing from a screenplay written by David Scarpa. This marks Phoenix and Scott’s latest collaboration together after previously working together in the acclaimed 2000 epic drama Gladiator. Joining Phoenix are Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, Youssef Kerkour, Phil Cornwell, and more.

“Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte,” reads the synopsis. “Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”

Napoleon is produced by Scott and Kevin Walsh for Scott Free. As Scott prepares for the movie’s upcoming release this year, he is also currently busy working on his long-awaited Gladiator sequel, which will be led by Oscar nominee Paul Mescal.