Joaquin Phoenix on Napoleon Bonaparte: 'I found him to be a much more complex person than I imagined'

"Joker" star Joaquin Phoenix will give life to another complex character in his upcoming film, "Napoleon," where he plays French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

In an interview with Columbia Pictures, Joaquin admitted that he did not know much about the iconic military leader before joining the project and was surprised at some of the information about the character that he discovered.

 "I found him to be a much more complex person than I initially imagined, especially the dynamic between him and Josephine (his first wife)," Joaquin said.

"I found him mysterious, and that mystery is something that is always interesting to explore."

Napoleon was one of the most successful generals of the French Revolutionary armies. He later became an emperor and established the Napoleonic Code in 1804, which became the official civil code of France and influenced civil law across the world.

Set to premiere on November 29 in the Philippines, "Napoleon" is an action epic that details the rise and fall of Bonaparte from the seat of power.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie will also showcase Bonaparte's relentless journey to power through the lens of his addictive, volatile relationship with his first wife Josephine, a character that will be played by English actress Vanessa Kirby.