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It was the year 2002 when iconic Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci donned a gold gown for the role of Cleopatra. Starring in a film titled Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, the film is simply one of the greatest ever made.

Gadot is known for playing Wonder Woman in the Dceu | Credits: DC Films

Before talks of Gal Gadot portraying the role of Cleopatra came to light, Monica Bellucci had already done it decades ago. Even after 2 decades, fans are still admiring the actress and her beauty.

When Monica Bellucci Portrayed The Role of Queen Cleopatra

Credit where credit is due, the French name for the film is actually Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre. The 2002 film is a German-French comedy/adventure movie by director Alain Chabat.

Monica Bellucci in Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | Credits: Katharina/Renn Productions

Starring a plethora of characters, the film had Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu...

Studiocanal and Editions Albert René have signed an exclusive development agreement for the fifth live action movie inspired by the adventures of French comic strip hero Asterix.

The deal comes as French publishing house Éditions Albert René marks the 65th anniversary of the creation of the plucky Gaul warrior Asterix and his sidekick Obelix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo in 1959.

Since then, 400 million Asterix books in 130 languages and dialects have sold worldwide, with 40 albums of Asterix adventures published since 1961.

The Asterix & Obelix comic books are embedded in French culture and have inspired five live-action films to date: Claude Zidi’s Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (1999), Alain Chabat’s Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), Frédéric Forestier and Thomas Langmann’s Asterix At The Olympic Games (2008), Laurent Tirard’s Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia (2012) and Guillaume Canet’s Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (2023).

They have had mixed fortunes...

Studiocanal and Editions Albert René have signed an exclusive development agreement for the sixth live-action film of the adventures of beloved French comic book character Asterix.

Created in 1959 by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, Asterix is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. The series follows the adventures of Asterix and Obelix and their friends who live in a small village in Gaul, the only outpost of resistance against Julius Caesar’s mighty Roman empire. Since the characters were launched, they have become a cultural phenomenon, both in France and internationally.

Some 400 million Asterix books in 130 languages and dialects have been sold. Since 1961, 40 albums of Asterix adventures have been published and five live-action films have been produced.

The Asterix live-action films are “Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar” (1999), “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002), “Asterix at the Olympic Games” (2008) “Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia” (2012) and Asterix and Obelix : The Middle Kingdom...

French actor and director Guillaume Canet has revealed he is feeling the pressure ahead of the release next week of his ambitious 70M production Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.

Canet directs and stars in the film as iconic plucky Gaul Asterix in an all-star ensemble cast also featuring Gilles Lellouche as Obelix, Vincent Cassel as Julius Caesar, Marion Cotillard as Cleopatra and Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović as Caesar’s bodyguard Antivirus.

The production is Canet’s eighth feature after 2006 breakout Tell No One, 2010 hit Little White Lies, Brooklyn-set, English-language debut Blood Ties and the smaller more personal pandemic-shot film Lui.

Long-time collaborator Alain Attal at Trésor Films produces with Pathé and Yohan Baiada at Les Enfants Terribles.

Pathé will launch Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom on 1,200 screens on February 1. Local media is hailing the release as the biggest film event of early 2023.

Canet has said he...

French actor Laetitia Casta will be feted by Locarno Film Festival with its 2021 Excellence Award Davide Campari, which pays tribute to film personalities who have left their personal stamp on contemporary cinema.

The prominent Swiss fest dedicated to global indie cinema, headed by new artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, has chosen to honor Casta in recognition of a career in which, after making the transition from the sphere of high fashion to the theater and film milieu, she’s risen to become “one of the most versatile acting talents of the new millennium,” the fest said in a statement.

Casta, who began her acting career in 1999 playing the beautiful young villager Falbalà in “Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar,” directed by Claude Zidi, has subsequently appeared in “Savage Souls” by Raùl Ruiz in 2001, in “Love Street” by Patrice Leconte in 2002, and in Tsai Ming-liang’s “Face” in 2009, to name just a...

German actor Gottfried John has died, aged 72.

The character actor was best known internationally for his role of James Bond villain General Ourumov in 1995's GoldenEye.

He was a star of German theatre, film and TV for several decades, and was part of a group of actors who worked with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

His work with Fassbinder included The Marriage of Maria Braun, Lili Marleen and the TV series Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Following his role in GoldenEye, he appeared in a number of international films including Volker Schlondorff's The Ogre, Proof of Life and the 1999 adaptation of Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar.

He also provided the German voice of Shifu in Kung Fu Panda 2, originally played by Dustin Hoffman.

John died in Munich on September 1 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife Barbara.

Watch Gottfried John in GoldenEye's classic tank chase sequence below:...

Gottfried John, actor most famous for his role as James Bond villain General Arkady Grigorovich Ourumov in GoldenEye passed away this morning at age 72, after a long bout with cancer. He is survived by his wife Barbara.

Gottfried John Dead At 72

John was mostly known for his filmwork in his native Germany for such films as Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar, Berlin Alexanderplatz, and his collaborations with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In America, John was known for his appearence on the TV series Millennium, as well as films such as Proof of Life, The Marriage of Maria Braun and GoldenEye.

Gottfried John and James Bond

John has a significant place among Bond villains. His role as the villainous general was lauded as arguably the best of the Pierce Brosnan era. As General Ourumov, John was raspy and quiet; gruff and solidly powerful — a far cry from many of the Bond...

COLOGNE, Germany -- Reinhard Klooss has joined leading German indie production company Constantin Film, the company announced Tuesday. Klooss, whose producing credits include Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar, Buffalo Soldiers and Comedian Harmonists, will focus on Constantin's family entertainment and animation division. Constantin is expanding into CGI animation production with the July 20 release of family-friendly comedy Hui Buh -- The Castle Ghost, featuring German comedian Michael "Bully" Herbig.