BERLIN — Lionsgate U.K. has taken U.K. rights to “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” which Luc Besson has written and is directing. The film stars Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, and started principal photography in Paris on Jan. 6.
Besson based his screenplay on the French science-fiction comic series “Valerian and Laureline,” created by artist Jean-Claude Mezieres and writer Pierre Christin. Clive Owen, Rihanna, Ethan Hawke, Herbie Hancock and Kris Wu also star in the film.
Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe.
Zygi Kamasa, Lionsgate U.K. CEO, said: “Luc is a one-of-a-kind filmmaker and has a visionary way to bring stories to life, so we can’t wait to see how he brings Valerian to life for cinemagoers.”
Virginie Besson-Silla is producing the film on behalf of EuropaCorp, while Fundamental Films, alongside BNP Paribas, Orange, Universum Film, Gulf Film, River Road Entertainment, Belga Films and TF1 Films Production are the main co-financiers of the movie.
The film is scheduled to be released in the U.K. in 2017.
