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Luc Besson Also Writing & Directing the 'Valerian' Sci-Fi Adaptation
by Alex Billington
June 29, 2012
Source: Variety
Hot damn, French filmmaker Luc Besson has found some kind of second filmmaking wind. He's keeping up with everything, developing more and more, not only producing Taken 2, he was already in the news earlier today casting a "darkly comedic gangster thriller" titled Malavita that he's directing next. In addition to that, Variety is now reporting that Besson is already setting up another project to writer & direct, this one an adaptation of a Gallic comic book series called Valerian, published in Pilote. EuropaCorp is developing the adaptation about the adventures of space and time traveling agent Valerian and his sidekick Laureline.
Besson, who said he was retiring from directing years ago, is back at it again. He just finished The Lady last year, now he's gearing up to shoot Malavita with Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones, as well as some other untitled film with Angelina Jolie, in early 2013. Then it sounds like he'll move to Valerian, all with EuropaCorp, being written & directed (in English) by Besson. Those are the only details so far on Valerian.
Valérian and Laureline is a French science fiction comics series, created by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières. First published in the magazine Pilote in 1967, the final installment was published in 2010. The series focuses on the adventures of the dark-haired Valérian, a spatio-temporal agent, and his redheaded female companion, Laureline, as they travel the universe through space and time in the 28th century. Valérian is a classical anti-hero, kind-hearted, strong and brave but with a tendency to follow the orders of his superiors even if he feels, deep down, that it is the wrong thing to do. I'm sure Besson has some angle to this to make it a cinematic story; I hope he's getting back to his sci-fi roots (e.g. The Fifth Element).
Check out this concept art I stumbled across for Valérian and Laureline, created by Jan Ditlev Christensen, completely unrelated, but a cool look at the potential of the world this story exists in. I'm intrigued already!
4 Comments
1
What wonderful and incredible pictures.I prefer Valerian to Malavita , but believe must be had Serious Tone . I like comedic part in Fifth Element but gritty far future is more realistic for me. Blade Runner is symbolic. Anyway I really love see this French Scifi very soon
Ehsan Davodi on Jun 29, 2012
2
Valerian is the kind of french scifi that influenced a lot of modern sci fi visuals ... But take it away from Luc Besson it will be a disaster ...
Bigbob on Jun 29, 2012
3
This is such incredible good news!!! Hurray! Luc Besson for President!!! This could be a real good sci-fi franchise if it's done right. I'm hoping Besson will go for the space opera, hollywood blockbuster style when adapting this. My favorite as Valerian would be Jake Gyllenhaal, and as Laureline, Alicia Witt.
Patric Nilsson on Jun 30, 2012
4
Oh my God. I love Valerian. I know for sure that this is the most undervalued comic ever. It´s saga has probably inspire space operas since the early 70s, Star Wars included. I have all the collection. Wonderfull News!!!!!!!! Thanks Tintin. European Comics now have a better chance againgst DC and Marvel. Its in French, but use Google tranlsate and you will see what I´m talking about. http://www.mintinbox.net/Dossiers/dossier_valerian/
Mr Props on Jul 5, 2012
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