Napoleon and Betsy was first reported back in 2004 with Scarlett Johansson attached to star in a film telling the story of Napoleon’s final years, as seen through the eyes of a young girl.
The project was then again brought up in 2005 with Scarlett still starring and Benjamin Ross aboard to direct.
Well, Ross is still on board and so is his script, but Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger, will be replacing Scarlett as Betsy Balcombe, a young, impetuous noblewoman trapped on the isolated British Isle of St. Helena who falls in love with Napoleon, who is in exile on the island.
Johansson is still producing the project but left the role as it began to “skew younger”. However, it sounds to me that Scarlett has just gotten too old.
Watson is expected to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows early 2009 and hopes to film Napoleon this fall.
As has always been the situation, the role of Napoleon has still not been cast.
