Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (Valérian et la Cité des mille planètes in French) is an upcoming English-language French science fiction film produced, written and directed by Luc Besson. The film is based on the French science fiction comics series Valérian and Laureline, written by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières. It stars Dane DeHaan as Valérian and Cara Delevingne as Laureline. The film is scheduled for release on July 21, 2017.

Plot

In the 28th century, Valérian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valérian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner - blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him.

Under directive from their Commander Arün Filitt (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis inhabited by thousands of species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time - uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.

Cast

• Dane DeHaan as Valérian
• Cara Delevingne as Laureline
• Clive Owen as Commander Arün Filitt
• Ethan Hawke
• Rihanna
• John Goodman
• Herbie Hancock
• Kris Wu
• Rutger Hauer

Production

Development

In 2012, it was announced that Luc Besson planned to make a movie for the big screen of the French comic series Valérian and Laureline, published in 1967, sold 10 million copies and translated into 21 languages. On 12 May 2015, Besson revealed in his very first tweet that he would write and direct Valerian film, while Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne would star. DeHaan and Delevingne would play the titular roles, space and time-traveling agents from a futuristic Earth. On 19 August 2015, Clive Owen signed on to play Commander Arün Filitt in the film. This film marks the return of the director to space opera, twenty years after The Fifth Element, and confirms its appeal to the genre of science fiction, especially after Lucy's worldwide success in 2014. The budget of €197 million is the largest ever assembled for a French film. Asterix at the Olympic Games was the most expensive with a budget of €78 million, just ahead of Besson's The Fifth Element (€75 million). By the end of August 2015, Besson said in a RTL radio interview that shooting the film in France was too expensive. Because it will be shot in a foreign language (English), Besson was unable to benefit from tax credits despite preferring to produce it in France and create jobs for 1,200 crew members. The criteria to obtain these tax credits were then adapted accordingly.

Casting

On 28 October 2015, Rihanna was cast in the film for an unspecified role. On 5 December 2015, Ethan Hawke was cast in the film for an unspecified role. On 12 December 2015, Herbie Hancock's casting for an unspecified role was revealed. On 15 December 2015, Besson announced the casting of Kris Wu for an unspecified role.

Filming

Principal photography on the film began on 5 January 2016 in the Cité du cinéma, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

Release

Valerian is scheduled to be released worldwide on July 21, 2017 by EuropaCorp. Lionsgate will handle the film's release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

External links

• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets at IMDb