Netflix reveals the first images of the series created by Alain Chabat

Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatrawhich Alain Chabat wrote, directed and in which he plays no less than Julius Caesar, is a cult film. Released in 2002, it was praised by critics and the public, attracting nearly 3.7 million spectators in theaters.

After other experiences as a filmmaker, the ex-Nul wanted to tackle a new challenge. Approach the work of Goscinny and Uderzo through animation, like Alexandre Astier with feature films Asterix: the domain of the gods (2014) et The Secret of the Magic Potion (2018), and by turning it into a series. “The series and animation are two spaces that I have never fully explored, in any case never with a spectrum as broad and ambitious as that of this series, he confided to Figaro mi-November. It was like going back to basics, putting the drawing backAlbert Uderzo at the heart of the project. It was an exciting and exciting challenge to animate and give even more life to all these characters who already lived fully in each panel of each album.»

So here is Asterix & Obelix: The Battle of the Leadersinspired by the seventh album in the collection, published in 1966. Synopsis : «The last independent village of Gaul, the home of Asterix and Obelix, owes its superiority against the Romans to a magic potion, but when the druid who made their potion loses his memory, the villagers are left to their own devices in the face of the power of Rome.”

Why this choice? “One of the many strengths of René Goscinny's writing is to look at, and sometimes comment on, society with a mischievous, sideways look. The Battle of the Chefs takes place in Gaul occupied by the Romans and we meet invaders, resistance fighters and collaborators. So yes, it's a theme that is still, unfortunately, current, but as with Asterix, the goal is above all to have a great time with our Gauls, we told that in an adventure full of humor, action and adventures!», he explained, still Figaro in an interview.

Laurent Lafitte: the voice of Caesar

This series, which he co-directed with Fabrice Joubert, and adapted and dialogued with Benoît Oullion and Piano, has 5 30-minute episodes, with 3D animation in a 60s-70s design. In the voice casting, Alain Chabat himself, of course, in the role of Asterix, and his gang: Gilles Lellouche will return to the character of Obélix that he played in Guillaume Canet's film, The Middle Kingdom (2023), Laurent Lafitte will be César, Thierry Lhermitte Panoramix, Géraldine Nakache Bonemine… Jérôme Commandeur, Anaïs Demoustier, Fred Testot, Jeanne Balibar, Jean-Pascal Zadi, Grégory Gadebois, and even Alexandre Astier, will also be in the credits. To be discovered in the first semester on the platform.