Al Pacino's Next Iconic Role: Napoleon!
Filed under: Casting, Family Films
Napoleon seems to be all the rage these days, conquering his way to the big screen. But rather than have dueling pictures for the same audience, we've got one adult romance and one child's tale coming our way. The first is Napoleon and Betsy, a historical romance that grabbed Emma Watson last year. To add to the French flavor, we're now getting an adaptation of Staton Rabin's children's book, Betsy and the Emperor, and The Hollywood Reporter posts that Al Pacino has signed on to play the infamous Frenchman.While the first project takes some liberties, morphing the true story of friendship between a defeated emperor and young girl into a romance, this keeps things platonic for its tween audience. (A welcome note because the thought of a Pacino/Watson romance is, well, unseemly.) Based on the true story of Betsy Balcombe, Rabin's tale follows the 14-year-old as she breaks out of her family's fear of Bonaparte and becomes his friend while he's exiled on St. Helena. The relationship is based in fact, but the book then adds a bunch of flair with accidental death and hot balloon adventures.
Apparently Al has been itching to tackle Bonaparte for a while, and I imagine this is a bit of a compromise -- as a big-name actor often busy with iconic drama, who yearns to play a certain historical figure, a tween-themed film isn't usually the project of choice. Nevertheless, it's great to see Pacino walk beyond that Righteous Kill and get some more worthy gigs. Lear, Bonaparte ... what's next? Thomas Jefferson?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-08-2009 @ 10:36AM
paul said...
I'm not so sure it works now, even w/ the romance angle purged. Emma Watson and Al Pacino? The mind boggles.
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4-08-2009 @ 10:44AM
Kurt Munro said...
Napoleon with a NY accent?
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4-08-2009 @ 12:10PM
Mr.R said...
At Waterloo: "evegry time I think I'm out! Djey pull me back in!!!"
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4-08-2009 @ 11:30AM
emersondartagnan said...
Kubrick wanted Pacino as Napoleon, so it must be okay.
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4-21-2009 @ 1:26PM
Anna Torres said...
frist of all hi! my name is Anna ' and i jest wanted to know how would Al pacino feel if some oe would write the second part of SCARFACE ? well i have wrote it and i'ts as great as the frist one is the best gangstermovie made in yrs since the frist one and it took me a yr to write but i did it and it's what every one whats to see in SCARFACE # 2 the world is our's ''. and it got's lot's of surprises i'ts going to have the people on the edge of there seats trust me once you start to read my sript you dont or wouldn't want to put it down i'ts what people want and what they been waiting for its been yrs and no one has wrote it and now me after so many yrs i wrote it hay it's about time this movie comes out and i'ts the right time for it too ' he has age and so has Elvira and Manolo ' well yes there in it and you will be amiaze whit the way i put this together you would have never thought a woman could have wrote this but a tough one at that . and all it needs is a great producer to get it out there and this movie will make history and it will be seen over and over becouse i'ts what people are want so i know this movie is going to be the number one movie at the box office for days or maybe even weeks . so i wrote it i know this movie will make millions and i want to make sure that whit the acconomy the way it is that me and my kids are well compencaided . and that i will be the one to write SCARFACE # 3 i already have the movie packed down for that one all it needs is a good producer and some one that i can trust at that . and this is no joke ''' you can cantac me at my email ] bejanena@comcast.net ] or my home # is 717 -695-0537 ] if you think that you can help me get this movie SCARFACE # 2 the world is ours well look me up ' oh' thats the title of the movie and i'ts going to be hot ''' so your not going to reagreet it jest give me the benefit out dought and trust me this movie will be the talk of the for years as SCARFACE # 1 . so jest give me a call but i also have people that i want to ply in this and we can talk once you call or email me . thank you for your time and hope to hear from you . and god bless ,.. Chao ... please try to get this message to Al Pacino he would love to hear that some one finally wrote the second part of SCARFACE '''''''''' .so even if your not sure or have a producer that would be intersted please give him this info , it will be hightly appriciated . thank you once more and please get back ... or at list give the info to Al, Pacino. P.S thank you and have him call or email me . Chao.
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4-21-2009 @ 1:21PM
Anna Torres said...
i send a email for Al, Pacino or his producers but if you didnt get it its in refrance to SCARFACE # 2 i wrote it and it's call the world is our's and it has lots of surprises . so if you got this i did send my email add and my cell number if your interested because it's the movie that every one is waiting for and the timeing is great and millions of people are wating for this film to come out and its about time it did so jest call me and we can get together and get this to the movies it will make the number movie at the box office for days maybe even weeks so like i already told you i wrote it so i want to make sure who ever calls me i can trust because i'am a tough cookie and i know this movie is going to make millions and i'am doing this for my children i want to make sure whit the acconomy the way it is that me and my family are well takeing care off . so like i said all i need is a producer or producers and some one i can trust like i said because i'am not giveing up a million dallor movie so jest trying to get this movie out there and if your Al, Pacino i know you want to play in SCARFACE # 2 because your in it yah you made it they left you for dead but you played them . so you back to regain your power money and your revange . that sholud say it all '''' . and when Elvira left you yes she was expecting and she did have a son and not only one , and Manny well he coulnt have die whit two gun shots to his stomach so you see if you read what i have you would'nt want to put it down trust me i'ts as good as the frist one . and its done and ready to get produce so if your a producer and would like to talk to me you got what you need to get ahold of me so lets get this movie out there now every ones waiting . even Al, Pacino jest let him know about this email ok and you will see for your self's that its time this movie gets produce and out there befor the end of the yr. so get your producers to call me or emial me at bejanena@comcast.net . thank you and god bless Cha-o . till yours hopefally .,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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5-26-2009 @ 10:53PM
joe said...
i think al pacino and emma watson in a the same movie need i say more, u could get both young and an older audience to see it, they are both great at there craft, also emma doing a movie with an iconic legend like pacino only makes her more notice in hollywood, hopefully shell be around for a while, so i hope this happens, i think this could be a good film .
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