What Could Have been: Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon

Napoleon film history has been a topic of fascination for filmmakers for nearly a century. The first epic attempt came in 1927 with Abel Gance’s Napoléon, a groundbreaking silent film that pushed the limits of cinema with its innovative techniques, including a stunning three-screen finale. Gance’s vision was so ambitious, it covered 13 years of Napoleon's life and left audiences, including Charles de Gaulle, in awe. Later, directors like Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott also sought to bring Napoleon’s life to the big screen, with Kubrick’s version famously never made. Ridley Scott’s recent take sparked debate over its historical inaccuracies. Meanwhile, Francis Ford Coppola spent five years restoring Gance’s Napoléon, ensuring it reached new audiences. Today, Steven Spielberg is working on a seven-part Napoleon series for HBO, proving the lasting appeal of Napoleon in cinema. Join us as we explore the fascinating history of Napoleon in film and the directors who brought—or tried to bring—him to life.