PARIS – What do Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Richard, Philippe Katerine and the singer Angèle have in common? These big stars of French cinema and European music are all part of the cast of the new film asterixthat lands on our screens in two weeks.
Photos courtesy of Sphere Films
Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom is the first live-action Asterix film to hit theaters since On Her Majesty’s Service in 2012. It will hit theaters in Quebec on the same day as France, February 1st. It’s the actor and director Guillaume Canet (Les petits mouchoirs) who this time, in addition to directing the film, also slips into the skin of the famous little blond Gaul. His good friend Gilles Lellouche succeeds Gérard Depardieu by donning the Obélix costume.
Written by Canet, Julien Hervé and Philippe Mechelen, The Middle Empire is not an adaptation of a comic book album by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The new film tells the adventures of Asterix and Obelix as the two brave Gauls embark on a journey to China to help a princess liberate her country.
Guillaume Canet met on Tuesday afternoon as part of the Rendez-vous d’Unifrance in Paris and did not hide the fact that he felt enormous pressure a few days before the film’s release. In France, The Middle Empire is being looked to as a savior by the French cinema community, in a context where films made in France have struggled to attract crowds since the post-pandemic recovery.
Photos courtesy of Sphere Films
“There is pressure even with a budget like this [environ 93M$]the movie should work [au box-office]said the actor and director.
“But there is also additional pressure from across the industry. Because after this pandemic, even if cinema is gaining a little momentum, it is still fragile for French cinema. A great French film like Asterix could serve as a driving force for the other productions that will follow.
Photos courtesy of Sphere Films
Marion Cotillard plays the role of Cleopatra.
Update the franchise
As in the previous films, this fifth Asterix brings together a multitude of stars and surprising lightning appearances in live action. Guillaume Canet gave the role of Cleopatra to his companion Marion Cotillard. Vincent Cassel wears the costume of Julius Caesar, while Pierre Richard embodies the druid Panoramix.
Photos courtesy of Sphere Films
Vincent Cassel as Julius Caesar.
“There was a desire on our part to refresh the franchise and change the actors,” Canet said.
The program also features several unexpected appearances, including that of Belgian singer Angèle (in Falbala) and famous footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic (the formidable antivirus warrior).
Photos courtesy of Sphere Films
The singer Angèle in Falbala.
“I really wanted to have big stars in the film because it’s kind of a trademark of Asterix,” admits Canet. On the other hand, I really wanted them to have a real character and real scenes to play with. I didn’t want it to be free.
- Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom hits Quebec theaters on the 1stah February. We’ll come back to that.