Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Movie Kitbag Changes Title

The highly anticipated Napoleon Bonaparte/Empress Josephine epic from legendary director Ridley Scott has now changed its title from KitBag to an all-new one. The big budget Apple TV+ original film recently began shooting this month in the Oxfordshire area of England and stars Academy Award-winning actor, Joaquin Phoenix. Starring alongside Phoenix is Vanessa Kirby, who only weeks ago officially replaced actress Jodie Comer in the role of Napoleon’s wife, Joséphine Bonaparte.

According to a report from Deadline, the star-studded period film will no longer be called Kitbag, and will instead now go by the title of Napoleon. The previous film title was said to be derived from the saying that “There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag.” The news comes as the president of Scott’s Scott Free Productions, Kevin Walsh, makes his exit and transitions into a multi-year deal with Apple TV+ to produce film and television. However, he remains on board as producer for Napoleon with Scott, as production continues on the high-profile film.

The historical epic explores Napoleon’s origins and his rapid, brutal ascension to emperor, from the perspective of his turbulent relationship with the Empress, played by Kirby. The Apple Studios financed and produced film sees the reunion of Scott and Phoenix over 20 years after their work together on their Best Picture Academy Award-winner Gladiator in 2000. Napoleon is being written by David Scarpa, who previously collaborated with Scott as a writer on All the Money in the World. Scarpa is also writing another period epic for Paramount Pictures starring Wonder Woman actress, Gal Gadot, based on the life of Cleopatra.

Source: Deadline