Al Pacino has taken on a variety of real-life roles during his four-decade acting career: American bank robber John Wojtowicz (a.k.a. Sonny Wortzik in “Dog Day Afternoon”), NYPD officer Frank Serpico (“Serpico”), McCarthyist lawyer Roy Cohn (the TV miniseries “Angels in America”). Now, he can add Napoleon Bonaparte to that list.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pacino has signed on to play the famous French ruler in a big-screen adaptation of the children’s book “Betsy and the Emperor.”

Written by Staton Rabin, the book is based on the true story of Lucia Elizabeth Balcombe – known as Betsy to family and friends – who, as a teenager, befriended Napoleon during his exile on St. Helena and later penned a memoir about the experience.

The independent film will be directed by John Curran (“The Painted Veil”) and is expected to begin filming in late autumn.

This isn’t the only Napoleon and Betsy film in the works – as previously reported, “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson had signed on to play the lead in “Napoleon and Betsy” back in April. The film remains in pre-production, and its fate is unclear at the moment.

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He?s played a gangster, Shakespeare?s Shylock, a blind lieutenant colonel, and even the Devil during his decades-long acting career. On Friday night, Al Pacino took on another role, this time for real ? as recipient of the 2005 American Cinematheque Award.

Pacino, 65, received the honour at a star-studded ceremony in Beverly Hills, reports USA Today.

The annual award is presented to “an extraordinary artist in the entertainment industry who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture.?

According to hellomagazine.com, the emotional actor told guests that ?you think you’re going to be able to speak at something like this but I’m overwhelmed.”

Performer after performer took the stage to share memories of Pacino?s career, one that has garnered eight Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor win for 1992′s “Scent of a Woman.”

Among those who attended the ceremony were Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves, Ed Harris and James Caan.

Caan, who portrayed Pacino?s big brother Sonny in the mafia trilogy ?The Godfather,? recalled how director Francis Ford Coppola had to fight to get Pacino cast.

?If it were not for Francis being so stubborn and pigheaded, we would all have been cheated out of a little bit of Al’s greatness,” Caan said.

Colin Farrell, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep sent pre-recorded tributes.

?I’m still in awe of you as an actor. There’s nobody fiercer – you are relentless in your pursuit of a character,” said Streep in her taped statement.

Bruce Willis, who himself received the prize in 2000, presented the award to Pacino, telling him that his 1972 performance in ?The Godfather? was the reason he became an actor.

“When you’re in films where people walk around their house doing scenes and lines from your movies, then you’ve made it,” Willis said.

The evening was hosted by Pacino’s ?Two for the Money? co-star Jeremy Piven and will be broadcast Jan. 22 on AMC.

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