SNAPSHOT
In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha—an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other. There is a mystery at the center of Alpha, a dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe. (synopsis via Coming Soon)
One of my favourite films ever is Luc Besson’s groundbreakingly kooky The Fifth Element.
It’s wildly, extravagently over the top, a film that, while it admittedly values style (and what style it is) over substance, giving us a threabdare plot that exists to hang lots of gorgeous visual baubles off, is a brilliantly immersive sic-fi romp through the amazing aprt of the galaxy and Besson’s thrilling luxurious imagination.
The fact that he’s now returning with another sci-fi magnum opus is welcome news indeed, and Valerian, based on a long-running series of French graphic novels (1967 – 2010), looks to be well worth the wait.
Following two gloriously full-on trailers, come some beautifully-realised character posts that introduce us to the people, human, aliens and otherwise, that will take us to worlds far beyond our own.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opens 21 July in USA and 10 August in Australia.
And here for your non-poster viewing pleasure is the second, fantastically and beautifully expansive trailer …