When Ridley Scott’s film “Napoleon” was released in 2023, it faced a storm of criticism for its historical inaccuracies and struggled at the box office, barely recouping its colossal $200 million budget. Despite this rocky start, the film found a new life on Apple TV+, where it garnered a significant following. In an unexpected move, Scott released a Director’s Cut of the movie on the streaming platform, adding 48 minutes of previously unseen footage to the original theatrical version.

Fans of war epics will find “Napoleon” intriguing, especially if they explore other notable films in this genre.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the additional scenes extend the movie’s runtime from 157 minutes to 205 minutes, nearly three and a half hours. Interestingly, Scott had mentioned to Total Film that his preferred cut was 250 minutes long, indicating that even the Director’s Cut is relatively restrained. Scott announced this new version via social media, expressing his excitement and addressing fans with, “Hello, people of the internet!” He emphasized that this extended cut is exclusively available on Apple TV+, featuring fresh, unseen footage.

Scripted by David Scarpa and helmed by Scott, “Napoleon” stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular French emperor. The narrative delves deeply into Napoleon Bonaparte’s complex relationship with Josephine (portrayed by Vanessa Kirby) while also charting his meteoric rise in the military. The film does not shy away from depicting the brutal battles that defined Bonaparte’s career. The ensemble cast includes Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, Ben Miles, and Ludivine Sagnier. It earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects.

Ridley Scott’s penchant for extended cuts is well-documented, with his career spanning nearly five decades since his debut in 1977. “Napoleon: The Director’s Cut,” at 3.5 hours, now stands as his longest film, surpassing the Director’s Cut of “Kingdom of Heaven,” which was 189 minutes long. Scott has released alternate versions of 11 out of his 28 feature films, a testament to his commitment to expansive storytelling. Streaming platforms have provided an ideal outlet for these extended cuts.

Movies like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” “Gladiator,” “Black Hawk Down,” and “The Martian” have all seen extended cuts, with many fans preferring these versions over their theatrical releases, particularly in the cases of “Blade Runner” and “Kingdom of Heaven.” Scott has hinted that other films in his oeuvre, such as “Black Rain,” “1492: Conquest of Paradise,” “The Last Duel,” and “House of Gucci,” also have longer versions that could potentially be released in the future.

Looking ahead, Scott is teaming up again with David Scarpa for “Gladiator II,” a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2000 film “Gladiator.” The original starred Russell Crowe and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The upcoming sequel features Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington, with Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen reprising their roles from the first film. The plot follows Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire who turns gladiator after a Roman Army invasion.

Scott believes that “Gladiator II” could be his magnum opus. Scheduled for release in the UK on November 15, 2024, and in the US on November 22—the same day as the much-anticipated movie musical “Wicked”—the film is highly anticipated.

For those interested, “Napoleon: The Director’s Cut” is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.