The Middle Kingdom may have been a notable critical failure, but it was nonetheless lucrative for Hachette Livres and Pathé. The imagination of Uderzo and Goscinny continues to be an essential component of the French audiovisual landscape, and Netflix and Alain Chabat would agree. According to Closer, a new film is in the works. A director has even been approached, and his name is most surprising. To carry the flagship Asterix and Obelix, Canal+ and Hachette Livres are banking on a novice (at least behind the camera). According to information from Closer, Jonathan Cohen has been approached to direct the duo's next adventures. While he directed the series The Flame and The Torch, the actor and screenwriter has yet to make the leap to theaters. While both entities refuse to comment on this information, a source close to management explains to Parisien that nothing is set in stone (or menhir) yet.
Other directors have reportedly been approached, starting with Arthus. After the success of Un petit truc en plus, the biggest French-language hit in French theaters, it's easy to understand why the producers of Asterix and Obelix have bet on the comedian and director to revive the village of indomitable Gauls. Fabien Onteniente (Camping) is also among the directors considered for this major project.
Is this time the right one?
With 4.6 million admissions in France and some 2 million more on the European market, Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom managed to attract the attention of viewers upon its release. Like its predecessors, it became one of the biggest hits on the French market. However, critics and viewers were largely not thrilled by Guillaume Canet's offering. 2.4 stars out of 5 from the press on Allociné compared to 1.4 for viewers, it was a tough defeat for Pathé, which had bet big on this new installment of the franchise. To be honest, few films devoted to the two characters have found favor with the public. Only Alain Chabat and his Mission Cléopâtre have achieved unanimous acclaim in live action.
Recruiting Jonathan Cohen, who had a heyday on Canal+ with his parodies of The Bachelor and Koh Lanta, is an idea that has the merit of arousing curiosity. Will he be able to honor the Asterix mythology? Will he put the humor of The Torch and The Flame to the service of a new adventure or an adaptation of an emblematic album? We know little at the moment, starting with his actual participation in the project. We would be tempted to say that his role as Graindemaïs in the latest installment is already confirmation of his interest in the franchise.
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