We finally know the official synopsis of Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire by Guillaume Canet! The film is currently in post-production, with a release set for early 2023, precisely February 1, 2023.
First time, outside of animation, that an Asterix film is based on a completely new story, discover the plot of Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire, directed by Guillaume Canet. The story was imagined by Philippe Mechelen and Julien Hervé, both co-screenwriters of the Tuches, also with Guillaume Canet. The initial idea was launched by producer Yohan Baiada, who interested Editions Albert René (holders of the work of Uderzo and Goscinny).
Here is the official synopsis:
We are in 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, the Empress’s only daughter, 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…
If Guillaume Canet had already shared many snapshots of the filming of the film, we still did not know the complete and official synopsis of the film. So it’s done.
A year ago, during an interview with Le JDD, Guillaume Canet gave some indications on the visual ambitions he had for this very big budget film: “I know that we can do something crazy and that we don’t see much in France: a real great adventure film, epic, with sumptuous sets and costumes.”
“The idea is to make children and parents laugh by returning to an offbeat Chabat-style humor while having a very strong, magical visual ambition, like Braveheart that meets Tiger and Dragon! I’m a big fan of Chinese cinema and its crazy fights, with the characters flying. We will confront the kung-fu and the brute force of our Gallic heroes.”
The cast will bring together several families of humor, including a number of actors who will make their first foray into the saga, from Pierre Richard to Franck Gastambide.
Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom will be released on February 1, 2023.