Has Luc Besson got his directorial mojo back? Last year he dropped the unexpected smash hit "Lucy" with Scarlett Johansson, and it got both very good reviews and a thumbs up from audiences. But moreover, it was a big return to form for Besson who spent most of the 2000s directing forgettable family flicks and comedies, or producing and writing a string of trashy action fare like the "Taken" franchise. But now he’s gearing up a new movie that he’s been developing for a while, and it certainly sounds promising.
Besson has announced via Twitter that Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne will star in his adaptation of the celebrated French sci-fi-turned-series "Valerian," which tells the story of a pair of time- and space-traveling special agents. The series has long been a major landmark of the genre, and an unofficial influence on George Lucas‘ "Star Wars" films. And the comic’s co-creator Jean-Claude Mezieres worked as a designer on Besson’s peerless "The Fifth Element."
Production on "Valerian" will kick off later this year, with a release date slated for 2017. And it’s one we’re looking forward to. And when was the last time you could honestly say that about a Luc Besson film?