Following the movie A.I., this is the second time Steven Spielberg is bringing one of directing mentor Stanley Kubrick's lost projects to life. Kubrick had planned making a Napoleon biopic, which would star Jack Nicholson in the title role, but Kubrick did another time-period epic, Barry Lyndon, instead, working with Jack later in The Shining. As of 2023, Jack is currently billed as a cast-member here... most likely a cameo for almost having played the lead, that is, if the cameo happens at all since Nicholson unofficially retired from acting in 2010.
On February 21, 2023 at the Berlin Film Festival, Steven Spielberg confirmed the series was in development and is planned to be a 7-part mini-series at HBO. According to Deadline and other outlets, the mini-series was still in development but nearing a series order.
Cary Fukunaga exited this project and Spielberg will direct all 7 episodes.