[Hammock Parties]

I love it. MOAR Ridley doing period pieces.

During Monday night’s Sony presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, the studio revealed the first footage ever of Ridley Scott’s epic from Apple Original Films. Directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, Napoleon stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

Rothman noted that an epic tale of this scale has not been seen in years.

Indeed, the footage shown supports that notion. The moody scene takes place on a snowy battle field, as Napoleon led enemy troops onto a frozen lake, and then proceeds to rain cannon fire down as soldiers fall into the water, bodies and blood mixing. Napoleon stands from a hilltop, watching his carnage unfold. (For those curious, Phoenix does not seem to be speaking in a French accent in the film.)

“Epic is the only proper description of that Apple Original Film,” Rothman said after showing the scene.

The film is said to be an “original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby.” Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Matthew Needham and Ludivine Sagnier round out the cast.