In the new Asterix by Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche slips into the gargantuan body of Obélix, succeeding Gérard Depardieu. The latter has also delivered important advice to Lellouche to properly interpret the famous Gaul.
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Sacred monster of French cinema, Gérard Depardieu is forever associated with the character of Obélix, whom he played 4 times in the cinema. The actor is now inseparable from the famous Gaul, with whom he undeniably shares many points in common.
For Gilles Lellouche, who was chosen to succeed Depardieu in Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire, the task seemed very tough. Coming to terms with such a popular character after the actor’s performances might seem like an impossible mountain to climb.
FROM GÉGE TO GILLOU
“Embodying Obélix, who is a character we all know, is already creepy in itself. So passing behind Gérard Depardieu was something. I was very nervous, I was very scared and I worked a lot to get there”entrusted the actor to our microphone.
“But once the ultimate moment of stage fright has passed on the first day of filming, where you wonder what we’re doing here, we start. Everyone is looking at us, we’re shouting ‘Action’ and we have to go. A monstrous stage fright at the beginning and then I took a lot of pleasure in portraying this character”underlined Gilles Lellouche.
A PHONE CALL SAUCE GÉRARD
In addition, the artist revealed that he had telephoned Gérard Depardieu to ask him for advice on how to approach the role of Obélix. Invited to the TF1 newspaper on January 22, Lellouche recounted this unusual phone call.
I’m going to tell you something, Obelix, he has daisies in his eyes, that’s all!
“I called him several times, he never answered. One day he called me back nicely. He said to me: ‘What, do you want some advice on how to play Obélix? he has daisies in his eyes, that’s all. Come on, hello my deer, and he hung up. It was synthetic but these are the words that I kept with me throughout the shoot”revealed Gilles Lellouche.
DR Gerard Depardieu is Obelix
“There was a big responsibility, it’s Obélix, Obélix is France, and who was doing Obélix before? Gérard Depardieu for the first four films. So succeeding Gérard was complicated in my head”he added.
There was a big responsibility, it’s Obélix, Obélix is France.
Released on February 1, Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom takes us to 50 BC The Empress of China is imprisoned following a coup fomented by Deng Tsin Quin, a traitor prince.
Helped by Graindemaïs, the Phoenician merchant, and by his faithful warrior Tat Han, Princess Fu Yi, only daughter of the Empress, fled to Gaul to ask for help from the two valiant warriors Asterix and Obelix, endowed with superhuman strength thanks to their magic potion.
Our two inseparable Gauls of course agree to help the Princess to save her mother and liberate her country. And here they are all on their way for a great adventure to China. But Caesar and his powerful army, always thirsty for conquest, have also taken over the leadership of the Middle Empire.