The Asterix comics are loved by generations of fans around the world. That is why it is of course an event when a new film is shown in the cinemas after a long break. Here’s the trailer for Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom:
With elaborate optics and a prominent star ensemble, “Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom” signals the return of the legendary comic book heroes to the big screen of live action. Eleven years after “Asterix & Obelix – On Her Majesty’s Day” begins “Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom” from May 18, 2023 in German cinemas.
The adventure directed by main actor Guillaume Canet (“Little True Lies”) is, for the first time in a live-action movie “Asterix”, not based on an already well-known comic. Instead, Canet wrote a screenplay with a new, independent plot in collaboration with Julien Hervé (“Le Doudou”) and Philippe Mechelen (“Next, please!”). Nevertheless, it naturally plays in the classic scenario created by the two “Asterix” creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
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The work, realized with a huge budget of almost 70 million euros for a European film, was originally supposed to be shot in China in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production was subsequently postponed and rescheduled. Film work finally took place in France and Morocco the following year.
“Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom”: that’s the point
We write the year 50 BC. BC: The Empress of China (Linh Dan Pham) is captured after a coup. With the help of Phoenician trader Graindemaïs (Jonathan Cohen) and her loyal warrior Tat Han (Leanna Chea), Princess Fu-Yi (Julie Chen), the ruler’s only daughter, manages to escape to Gaul.
There she asks the two brave warriors Asterix (Guillaume Canet) and Obelix (Gilles Lellouche) to help her save her beloved mother and free the country from the tyrant Deng Tsin Qin (Bun-Hay Mean). The friends, empowered by the potion, of course agree to help the princess and immediately set off.
At the same time, the Roman emperor Julius Caesar (Vincent Cassel) had the idea of expanding his empire to the east. Against the advice of his girlfriend Cleopatra (Marion Cotillard), he sends out a powerful army led by the ruthless military leader Caius Antivirus (Zlatan Ibrahimović)…
This is the cast of “Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom”
In addition to Guillaume Canet as Asterix, Gérard Depardieu can no longer be experienced as Obelix in one of the “Asterix” live adaptations for the first time. The character is now embodied here by Gilles Lellouche, known for “Public Enemy No. 1 – Murder Instinct” and “The Untouchable”, among others.
Other major roles include “Hate” and “The Crimson Rivers,” lead actor Vincent Cassel, Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (“Inception”) and Swedish football superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović in his first big screen role.
Also present: Jonathan Cohen (“Army Of Thieves”), José Garcia (“Bastille Day”), Manu Payet (“Budapest”), Bun-Hay Mean (“Fake News”) and cinema legend Pierre Richard (“The Tall Blonde Met the black shoe”). If you don’t want to miss “Asterix and Obelix in the Middle Kingdom” and other major new releases of all genres – whether on the big screen, in streaming or for home theater – simply subscribe to our free newsletter, which comes out every Thursday.
Here we have a second trailer for you. It’s shorter than the above, but it contains a few different scene clips:
