Movies - Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom: Discover the new trailer

By Mulder, 05 january 2023

In 2016, after mixed critical and commercial success of the two previous live-action Asterix films, Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008) and Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia (2012), Anne Goscinny, the daughter of Asterix creator Rene Goscinny, declared the series required a reboot in terms of ideas and casting. Directors considered included Michel Hazanavicius and Franck Gastambide with a proposal to make a film based on Asterix in Corsica. In November 2017, Le Film Français magazine revealed that Éditions Albert René, producers Alain Attal and Yohan Baiada would be making a new live-action feature film not based on an Asterix comic album and that the Gauls would venture to China, with shooting scheduled for 2020.

In October 2019, Guillaume Canet announced he would be directing the film and taking on the role of Asterix, while Gilles Lellouche would co-star as Obelix. In previous live action films of Asterix, the role of Obelix had had always been played by Gérard Depardieu, who was Asterix co-creator Albert Uderzo's preferred actor for the part. Responding to the casting of Gilles Lellouche as Obelix, Depardieu said he was not disappointed as he does not have a monopoly on the role.

Alain Attal of Tresor Films said he and Canet had visited China with French President Emmanuel Macron to present the project to Chinese authorities and be permitted to film in China, co-produce with a Chinese firm, and release the film there. Attal also said Pathé was in negotiations with a Chinese distribution and co-production partner, which would cover part of the budget. Pathé is to distribute the film in France and represent it in international markets.The film's original working title in English was Asterix and Obelix: The Silk Road. On 18 February 2020, production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic In December 2020, Lellouche said filming would not take place in China, mainly because of political reasons.

In March 2021, French media reported shooting would take place in the Guéry plateau area of Puy-de-Dôme. Casting of extras took place over March 8 to 11 in Clermont-Ferrand and on March 12 in La Bourboule, for dozens of athletic men of Asian origin, aged between 18 and 45. Casting also sought Caucasian males, aged between 18 and 25, also of athletic build or having served in the army, with a height between 1.76 and 1.83 meters. Filming commenced on 12 April 2021 at Bry-sur-Marne studios. Shooting also took place in Brétigny-sur-Orge and Morocco. On 6 August 2021, Canet announced that shooting had completed after 17 weeks.

Discover on our Flickr page the official posters characters here and the photos here

Synopsis:
The year is 50 BC. The Empress of China is imprisoned following a coup d'état fomented by Deng Tsin Quin, a felonious prince. With the help of Graindemais, the Phoenician merchant, and her faithful warrior Tat Han, Princess Fu-Yi, the empress's only daughter, flees to Gaul to ask for help from the two valiant warriors Asterix and Obelix, who have superhuman strength thanks to their magic potion. Our two inseparable Gauls agree to help the Princess to save her mother and free her country. And here they are, all on their way to a great adventure to China. But Caesar and his powerful army, still thirsting for conquest, have also set out for the Middle Kingdom...

Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom
Directed by Guillaume Canet
Produced by Alain Attal, Yohan Baiada
Written by Guillaume Canet, Julien Hervé, Philippe Mechelen,
Based on the characters created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Starring Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Cassel, Jonathan Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Pierre Richard, Ramzy Bedia, Leanna Chea, Julie Chen, Linh-Dan Pham, José Garcia, Bun Hay Mean, Manu Payet, Tran Vu Tran, Zlatan Ibrahimović Philippe Katerine, Jérôme Commandeur, Audrey Lamy, Vincent Desagnat, Franck Gastambide, Laura Felpin, Issa Doumbia, Angèle, Bigflo et Oli, Orelsan, Mcfly et Carlito, Thomas VDB, Marc Fraize, Chicandier, Tatiana Gousseff, Matthieu Chedid
Music by Matthieu Chedid
Cinematography : André Chemetoff
Production companies : Les Éditions Albert René, Les Enfants Terribles, Pathé, Trésors Films
Distributed by Pathé (France)
Release date : February 1, 2023 (France)
Running time : 114 minutes