Gallic production-distribution powerhouse SND is teaming with its parent company, the broadcaster conglom M6 Group, to make the first stereoscopic 3D “Asterix” toon feature, “Asterix: The Land of the Gods.”
SND and M6 will produce and sell “Asterix” internationally, with SND initiating its pre-sales campaign at Santa Monica’s American Film Market next month.
The producers are in negotiations with Paris-based Mac Guff, which animated U.S. summer B.O. hit “Despicable Me,” to provide animation for the film.
Gallic hyphenate Alexandre Astier, seen as a thesp in French comedy “L.O.L: Laughing Out Loud,” is attached to pen the adaptation.
Astier is best known for creating the hit M6 comic skits series “Kaamelott,” an Arthurian legend lampoon.
“Asterix: The Land of the Gods” is a bigscreen makeover of Asterix book, “The Mansion of the Gods,” written by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo.
Turning on the 17th adventures of the Gallic hero, the book has been translated into 26 languages.
France — and indeed the world — shows a seemingly insatiable appetite for Asterix big-screen transfers. Gaul’s Fidelite Films is currently developing a live-action adaptation of “Asterix chez les Bretons” (Asterix in Britain), which will be directed by Laurent Tirard (“Little Nicholas”), with Gerard Depardieu attached to resume his role as Obelix.
Voiced by Paul Giamatti, Sean Austin and Evan Rachel Wood and released in 2006, the $27 million SND/M6 produced “Asterix and the Vikings” grossed Euros8.1 million ($11.4 million) in France. International sales included Optimum in the U.K., Universum for Germany and Madman Ent. in Australia.
By JOHN HOPEWELL, ELSA KESLASSY
Original post: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026087.html?categoryid=3599&cs=1