This morning, Luc Besson debuted the first teaser trailer for his highly anticipated science fiction adventure Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Set to the Beatles’ “Because,” the teaser is lush and definitely evocative of the graphic novel series, created by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières, on which the film is based.
Interestingly, Besson told IMDb that they chose the song first, as they were “looking for a music color,” or what they wanted to say with the first image. Watch for yourself and see if it worked:
The official synopsis:
Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valerian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner- blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him.
Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.
Valerian the City of a Thousand Planets comes to theaters July 21, 2017.
It’s a nice-looking trailer, though I can’t say we learn much from it (slightly weirded out by blonde Laureline), but the spear-wielding kiss-interrupting aliens look like the Bagoulins from L’Ambassadeur des Ombres – maybe the Shingouzes will make an appearance!
(Can’t guarantee those are the alien names used in English or French as I read the albums in the Swedish translation.)