Arriving in the heart of the Ermenonville forest, to the north of Lutetia, I'm reassured by the sight of a glade spotted with a few modern vehicles as well as some chariots and carts: I've arrived! Right in the middle of the gigantic rocks, immense birches and tracks where wheels are constantly getting stuck in the sand, shooting on the third live-action Asterix film has well and truly started... Casually-garbed men armed with walkie-talkies bustle about, women plant ferns on the pathway soon to be taken by our heroes, some body-building types are having a great time moving tons of cinematic equipment to places you would usually be tempted to place a picnic blanket... In other words, slap bang in the middle of the forest there's a beehive of human activity. And the magic is complete when I see Obelix's breeches and Asterix's red trousers in the distance - the whole gang is here.
Gérard Depardieu, who has become a kind of doppelganger for our favourite gourmand, is in fine form: more real than you expect, more Rabelaisian than ever as if to protect himself from watching eyes, his voice booms out louder than ever so as not to hear a voice that may lead him to believe someone, somewhere, does not like him. In short, a life-size Obelix who, when you get him in conversation on his own, shows another side which also resembles our really rather fragile boar hunter. Our lord and master, Albert Uderzo, got the same feeling when he came to give his blessing to this new team led by Thomas Langmann, Frédéric Forestier, Jean-Lou Monthieux and Jean-Marc Deschamps.
It was wonderful to see Albert Uderzo in the heart of the forest, talking with his Obelix in the flesh. But the most cartoon-like of the two isn't necessarily the one you might think... Between two remarks from Obelix, even more outrageous than in the albums, and the hysterical laughter of the author, the new Asterix unobtrusively joins the two cohorts. The encounter is striking: Clovis Cornillac, a mischievous warrior Asterix with a steely gaze, has just arrived! His attitude, the way he moves, the way he talks with his comrade in arms: everything is like new - as if Asterix had recharged his batteries. This new Asterix will undoubtedly prove a terrific asset in this new adaptation. In fact, only Obelix/Depardieu will have taken part in all three films: this third film boasts all new directors, technicians and actors. The strength of the first two films will be recreated here thanks to the will of the producer, Thomas Langmann and Albert Uderzo: the magical images and universe of the first feature film, the preferred elements of European readers/audiences, along with the humour of the second film, which French speakers particularly appreciated. So a "best of" then or perhaps even a "better than"…?
I lied. I forgot about Dogmatix: the same little dog with the black-tipped ears who played in Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, has reenlisted for the new film. Moreover, he gave a wonderful performance in the first scene that I witnessed. Along a recreated path, strewn with rocks - that look as if they were drawn by Albert - and an occasional flower or mushroom, the little dog's mission was to meet up with his two friends as they conversed about the vacuity of force...

Yes, yes, Asterix and Obelix are chatting in the middle of the forest about the use of force, just before meeting a Roman legionary by the name of Gluteus Maximus, played on screen by Jérôme Le Banner, K-1 champion in his category. Remember the scene from the album Asterix at the Olympic Games? the one where the Roman champion, supposedly the fastest in the world, sees first Obelix and then Asterix come charging up, worried for him because he's running so fast? Well, you'll discover that Gluteus Maximus really does exist, and his depression upon realizing that our two heroes can run much faster than he, will have an enormous impact on the outcome of the Games.
Albert seems delighted with the start of this shoot, which is just short of majestic given that it took nearly five months of planning! As I report these events to you, the team has already left for nearly two seasons in Alicante, among the Iberians... Looks like things are going to be jumping this summer! Watch this space, dear internet users, and you'll find out everything about the craziest shoot in the history of cinema!
The press is already excited. Requests for interviews are pouring in on a daily basis. But, just like our heroes, we need to keep our heads. Our heroes must, perhaps even more so than our football champions, remain concentrated if they want to win the Olympic Games which are to take place in Athens, as is only appropriate, in January 2008. My job will be to let you know, before anyone else, all the secrets about the shoot as well as the events which are sure to enliven this incredible production. The French magazine Première has already devoted its July front cover to the new Asterix, Clovis, king of the Franks or near enough... We didn't agree with the cover photo that they decided to use, but hey, we run a website and not a monthly cinema magazine, so they told us that we didn't know what we were talking about. Charming, but honestly, don't you think it looks like Asterix is wearing ice skates on the cover? And yet, I promise you, it's not in the script. Anyway that's just my opinion…
But that's not the point: Asterix/Cornillac and Obelix/Depardieu, now there's a well-matched couple. You know what? Caesar and his legionaries are going to take some first-class thwacks!

GREECE - The release of the Asterix and the Vikings film was the occasion for extensive media coverage, as can be seen from the scanned newspapers here. The Greeks, inventors of the Olympic Games, are becoming increasingly keen on Asterix! Album sales are absolutely terrific: Asterix and the Falling Sky is at the top of the best-seller list and the album of the Asterix and the Vikings film is at number three!!! There's just some young whippersnapper, Daniel Beige and his de Vinci code, squeezed between the two. And he doesn't even have any Gauls, just some Mary Magdalene... astonishing, don't you think?


POLAND - For the more intellectual among you, we suggest you check out the figure of the Polish actress who lent her voice to Abba, Justforkix's fiancée. If the actresses of this beautiful country give it their all just the way she does, it'll be a hard time keeping one's job for Gaulish screen stars... but then again, that's just my opinion.

US - The release of the animated film produced by M6 was closely followed pretty much everywhere in the known world, including the United States, a country famous for its "gobbles". Variety, the American cinema weekly, was present at every stage of the project, starting with the launch press conference in Cannes in 2002. Could Bigbrother be worrying about a Gaulish invasion one day?!!!

DENMARK - A special mention for this little Scandinavian country, the birthplace of the latest animation project, since the two directors are both Danish natives.
The local press went all out on interviews with our two colleagues. They deserve it: they're talented, humble, talented, full of ideas and talented... Here's to Mr. Stefan Fjeldmark and Mr. Jesper Moller! And thanks once again!