In time with the news that Ridley Scott's Napoleon will be available on premium video-on-demand and for digital purchase on January 9, IGN can also exclusively reveal a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Battle of Austerlitz in the film.
The Battle of Austerlitz is considered one of Napoleon's greatest victories and saw the French take on Russian and Austrian soldiers. One of the most notable parts of the battle occurred when Napoleon and his army strategically forced their enemies on to the ice of the Satschan pond and their artillery broke the ice and caused many to drown. Estimates put the death toll from drowning as high as 2,000.
The Battle of Austerlitz and this decisive moment on the ice was part of the first footage ever shown of Ridley Scott's Napoleon, and the clip above shows how the team brought it to life.
From putting the soldiers through an intense boot camp to a combination of visual effects, special effects, stunts, horses, and the water tank that was built and iced up so the actors would actually fall into real water, there was a lot of work that went in to making this feel as real and visceral as possible.
Napoleon was released in theaters on November 22, 2023, and the film chronicles the rise and fall of this French Emperor who etched his name in this history books forever during his life. During its box office run, it brought in $213.4 million worldwide.
In our Napoleon review, we said, "As a historical epic, Napoleon is handsome but a little impersonal – you can really feel the absence of texture lost in getting it down under three hours. But between the textbook bullet points, a very funny anti-Great Man biopic peeks through, thanks largely to Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as a Bonaparte who’s more boy than man."
For more, check out the best movies and TV shows to watch after Napoleon, Ridley Scott's favorite shots from each of his iconic movies, and the news that Apple TV+ will be getting a 4-hour director's cut of the film.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
