Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom

Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (French: Astérix et Obélix: l'Empire du Milieu) is a 2023 French live-action adventure comedy film directed by Guillaume Canet, who also stars as Asterix. It is the fifth installment in the Asterix live-action film series.

Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom
French theatrical release poster
Directed byGuillaume Canet
Written by
  • Guillaume Canet
  • Philippe Mechelen
  • Julien Hervé
Based onAsterix
by René Goscinny
Albert Uderzo
Produced by
  • Alain Attal
  • Yohan Baiada
Starring
CinematographyAndré Chemetoff
Edited bySimon Jacquet
Music byMatthieu Chedid
Production
companies
  • Pathé Films
  • TF1 Films Production
  • Les Editions Albert Réné
  • Les Enfants Terribles
  • Les Productions des Trésor
Distributed byPathé Distribution
Release dates
  • February 1, 2023 (2023-02-01) (France)
  • May 19, 2023 (2023-05-19) (Netflix USA)
Running time
111 minutes[1]
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Budget$72.4 million
Box office$46.5 million[2]

The film, which co-stars Gilles Lellouche as Obelix, sees the title heroes travel to Han-era China for the first time. The original story is based on a script by Philippe Mechelen and Julien Hervé.[3] Canet also collaborated on the script.[4] It is the first live-action Asterix film not based on any of the comic albums or starring Gérard Depardieu as Obelix.

Shooting was originally planned to take place in 2020 in China but was delayed for a year and relocated to France due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Budgeted at $72.4 million, the film is co-produced by Pathé, Les Enfants Terribles and Paris-based Tresor Films.[6] It was theatrically released in France on 1 February 2023,[7] and on Netflix in select regions in 19 May 2023.[8] The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and grossed $46 million worldwide against a budget of $72 million, making it a box-office bomb.

Plot

Princess Fu Yi, the only daughter of the Chinese Emperor Han Xuandi (91–48 BC), escapes from a rogue prince, Deng Tsin Qin, and flees to Gaul, seeking help from Asterix and Obelix.

Julius Caesar takes his army regiments to China to defend Deng Tsin Qin.

Cast

English US
  • Jessica Carroll as Cleopatra (voice)

Production

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.[13] Directors considered included Michel Hazanavicius and Franck Gastambide with a proposal to make a film based on Asterix in Corsica.[14]

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.[15][16]

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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[6] The film's original working title in English was Asterix and Obelix: The Silk Road.[19]

On 18 February 2020, production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20][21][22] In December 2020, Lellouche said filming would not take place in China, mainly because of political reasons.[23]

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.[24] Filming commenced on 12 April 2021 at Bry-sur-Marne studios.[25] Shooting also took place in Brétigny-sur-Orge and Morocco.[26] On 6 August 2021, Canet announced that shooting had completed after 17 weeks.[27]

Music

Soundtrack

Reception

Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom has an approval rating of 40% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews, and an average rating of 5/10.[28]

References
  1. "Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  2. "Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. Goodfellow, Melanie (28 October 2019). "Guillaume Canet to direct live-action feature 'Asterix & Obelix, The Silk Road'". screendaily.com. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  4. Keslassy, Elsa (28 October 2019). "Guillaume Canet to Direct, Star in Next 'Asterix & Obelix' Installment for Pathé". Variety. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. Keslassy, Elsa (8 April 2021). "Pathe Relocates 'Asterix & Obelix' Movie From China to France". Variety. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. Keslassy, Elsa (18 January 2020). "Tresor Films Plots $72 Million 'Asterix & Obelix: The Silk Road". Variety. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. "Astérix par Guillaume Canet : on sait quand sortira L'Empire du Milieu". AlloCiné. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. Moore, Kasey (2023-04-23). "'Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom' Lands on Netflix in Select Regions in May 2023". What's on Netflix. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  9. "Astérix: Vincent Cassel incarnera César dans le film de Guillaume Canet". 20 Minutes. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. "Ce que l'on sait du film " Astérix et Obélix : l'Empire du Milieu ", tourné en partie dans le Puy-de-Dôme". France TV. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  11. "Pïerre Richard sera Panoramix dans le prochain Astérix et Obélix qui accueillera Zlatan Ibrahimovic". L'Iindependant. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  12. "'Antivirus': Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make big screen debut in Asterix film". The Guardian. AFP. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. Palanchini, Corentin (15 June 2016). "Astérix au cinéma : dites adieu à Depardieu et Edouard Baer!". AlloCiné. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  14. Bardinet, Elodie (27 December 2016). "Astérix : Deux nouveaux films réalisés par Michel Hazanavicius et Alexandre Astier?". Premiere. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  15. Hauguel, Bastien (13 November 2017). "Astérix s'en va-t-en Chine pour sa prochaine aventure au cinéma". Le Point Pop. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  16. "Astérix met le cap sur la Chine dans un film annoncé pour fin 2020". Europe1. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  17. Baronne, Brigitte (28 October 2019). "Astérix et Obélix : la photo de Guillaume Canet et Gilles Lellouche en costumes!". AlloCiné. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  18. Salle, Violette (1 September 2020). "Gérard Depardieu jaloux que Gilles Lellouche soit le nouvel Obélix ? Sa réponse cash". Voici. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  19. "Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom". Comics2Film.
  20. Goodfellow, Melanie (19 February 2020). "'Asterix & Obelix, The Silk Road' producers deny coronavirus cancellation rumours". Screen Daily. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  21. Imbert, Thomas (3 August 2020). "Astérix : un acteur de Star Wars et Mulan au casting de L'Empire du milieu?". AlloCiné. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  22. Goodfellow, Melanie (13 November 2020). "How France's "robust and ingenious" production industry rebounded this summer". Screendaily.com. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  23. Lachasse, Jérôme (18 December 2020). ""Astérix et l'Empire du Milieu" ne sera pas tourné en Chine pour "raisons politiques"". BFMTV. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  24. Senzier, Thierry (2 March 2021). "Un casting de figurants organisé du 8 au 11 mars à Clermont-Ferrand pour le prochain film d'Astérix". La Montagne. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  25. Valmary, Chloé (13 April 2022). "Astérix et Obélix L'Empire du milieu : on en sait plus sur l'intrigue du film". cineserie.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  26. "Asterix and Obelix: the Middle Kingdom: Pierre Richard, Zlatan, Angèle … the full cast of Guillaume Canet's film!". Daily Hind News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  27. Gerlinger, Eilsa (6 August 2021). "Astérix et Obélix, L'Empire du Milieu : très ému, Guillaume Canet annonce la fin du tournage avec un geste symbolique". Voici. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  28. "Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
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