18/08/2009

Shooting has started in Paris on Luc Besson’s ninth feature, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec. This is the first instalment in a trilogy adapted from Jacques Tardi’s eponymous series of nine comic strip books, started in 1976.

Described at Cannes by the director-producer as a cross between Amélie and Indiana Jones, the film stars Louise Bourgoin (The Girl from Monaco [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Mathieu Amalric (who appears in This Is the End [+see also:
trailer
film profile], to be released tomorrow), Jean-Paul Rouve (The Easy Way [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Frédérique Bel (Please, Please Me! [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

The film is based on the first four volumes of Tardi’s series (Adèle and the Beast, The Demon of the Eiffel Tower, The Mad Scientist and Mummies On Parade) and traces the misadventures of curious and whimsical novelist Adèle Blanc-Sec in 1920s Paris. It is a city traumatised by the First World War and filled with extraordinary creatures (werewolves, vampires, pterodactyls, etc).

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is produced by EuropaCorp for around €25m. At the latest Cannes Film Market, Besson’s company, which is also managing international sales, announced that the project had been bought on the basis of the screenplay by 80% of the key territories (with the exception of the US and UK). The film, to be shot mainly in France and Egypt, will be released in French theatres by EuropaCorp in spring 2010.

Besson will also be the focus of attention on December 2 with the theatrical release of his animated feature Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard.

(Translated from French)