Ridley Scott's historical epic Kitbag has a new female lead, with Vanessa Kirby stepping in to replace Jodie Comer. 
Comer was originally cast as Empress Josephine in Scott's biopic of legendary French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, who is being played by Joaquin Phoenix. However, as Deadline reports, she has now left the project because of a scheduling clash. 
Instead, Kirby will portray the Empress, whose 14-year marriage to Bonaparte proved tempestuous and formative for both parties. The movie, which is due to start shooting in the spring, is being described as a kind of Napoleon "origin story."
Kitbag would have been a second Ridley Scott project for Comer, who starred opposite Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Ben Affleck in the director's 2021 historical movie The Last Duel.
Comer is due to make her West End debut this April in Prima Facie, a new one-woman play about a conflicted lawyer who defends men accused of rape. In the meantime, we can catch her in the fourth and final season of Killing Eve, which begins Sunday, February 27 on BBC America. You can watch previous seasons here and check out a teaser for the new season here. 
Are you intrigued by Ridley Scott's Kitbag?