Apple Original Films announced today that the historical action epic "Napoleon" from acclaimed director Ridley Scott will first be released exclusively in theaters worldwide, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, on Wednesday, November 22, before streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, "Napoleon" stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. The film is 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. The film captures Napoleon's famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, "Napoleon" is produced by Scott, Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.

Momentum around the Apple Original Films slate continues to grow since the debut of Apple TV+ just over three years ago. In addition to Apple making history as the first streaming service to land the Academy Award for Best Picture with "CODA," Apple Original Film "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" also recently earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. "Napoleon" will premiere alongside upcoming Apple Original Films including the broadly praised "Tetris," which stars Taron Egerton and recently held its world premiere at SXSW; acclaimed documentary "STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie"; feature documentary and Sundance selection "Underrated: Stephen Curry"; "Ghosted," a high-concept romantic action adventure film starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas; "Killers of the Flower Moon," the upcoming film starring Academy Award winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, as well as newcomer Lily Gladstone, from Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese; the star-studded spy thriller "Argylle," with Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose and Samuel L. Jackson, and more.

Sony Pictures' distinct commitment to exclusive theatrical windows has driven significant box office returns including that of hit films "Spider-Man: No Way Home," "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," "Uncharted," "Where the Crawdads Sing," "Bullet Train," "The Woman King" and "A Man Called Otto."