Rupert Sanders will direct Warner Bros.' "Napoleon."
Variety is reporting that Sanders is closing a deal to direct the untitled biopic for the studio. The film was written by Jeremy Doner while Gianni Nunnari will produce. Meanwhile, Niija Kuykendall will oversee the picture for the studio.
The movie's concept will subvert what most people know about the French general including his famous short stature. In this version, he will be viewed as a gangster boss.
According to Variety, Doner put in tons of research, and "the studio was so high on this script when it was delivered that the studio viewed it as a possible pairing for Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese."
However, with Scorsese working on "The Wolf of Wall Street," Warner Bros. went to another director. The studio has not begun casting, but rumors have speculated that the studio will go for high profile actors including Tom Hardy and DiCaprio.
Ever since Sander's directorial debut with "Snow White and the Huntsman," the director has been attempting to make "The Kill List," "90 Church" for Universal and Joe Roth and "The Juliet" at Fox. He was also rumored to direct a reboot to "Van Helsing."
The upcoming Napoleon film is not the first time a Napoleon movie has been developed. Back in the 70s, Stanley Kubrick approached the studio about a Napoleon film but was denied the opportunity. As a result, the director made "Barry Lyndon," which ultimately failed at the box office, but still won four Academy Awards. It was recently announced that a "Napoleon" TV series is being developed based on the Kubrick script.