For a week now, "Google alerts", the new vessel for all the rumours buzzing around our vast planet, have been spreading like wildfire: Asterix is set to return to the big screen in a live action movie in 2008! From our virtual village, we can confirm and repeat: a third live action movie will soon be hitting cinema screens! No, I'm not paraphrasing Tintin's two famous detectives, because despite the fact that this film has been talked about all over the real and virtual worlds, what all these messengers don't yet know is this: contractually speaking, Albert Uderzo has to approve the screenplay before production can begin. However, Albert, who is on holiday in Brittany as I write to you, has already given positive feedback about the project as a whole, and is to take part in a work session with the screenwriters before giving his final approval.
The process has been far from simple, but the main thing is that a new Asterix live action project will soon be lighting up screens in Europe and beyond. The release date should be around January/February 2008. The cast? All the information provided is subject to modification, as the joint producers Pathé (Jérôme Seydoux) and La Petite Reine (Thomas Langmann) are tirelessly travelling in order to come up with the perfect cast. There are still discussions over who will take the role of Asterix, but Gérard Depardieu has been confirmed as Obelix. Alain Delon is tapped to play Julius Caesar, Benoît Poelvoorde is set to play his son, the odious Brutus, and as for the depressed Roman champion Gluteus Maximus, Jean-Claude Van Damme is apparently more than keen. Sim is likely to appear once gain as his caricature, Geriatrix and Adriana Karembeu has been mentioned for the role of Mrs. Geriatrix… We'll send you more juicy info as the other roles are confirmed… you see, there are Roman spies about, and our superintendent Régix, tells me I've already said too much.

So it looks like we're in for a few rather Gaulish years at the cinema, wouldn't you say? First, the animated film "Asterix and the Vikings", on which production will soon be completed, is set to appear in April 2006 (the official release date is apparently 12 April 2006) and is sure to feature unmissable visuals and comedy. And then two years later, the Gauls will be played by real actors once again! We in the virtual village will be the first to receive any info, so don't miss our missives if you want the latest news hot off the press! In fact, here is our first little scoop: filming could take place in Tunisia and Morocco! If I get the chance to visit the set, I'm sure to lord it over you, but because I'm such a kind-hearted soul, I'll tell you everything and more.
Seriously though, Asterix is dynamite, man!

Following the success of the first set of enigmas, a handful of Web surfers were able to reach Toutatis, the Gaulish heaven, a famous expression that some "rock and roll" group or other would later change to Nirvana. In this second set, only 54 of you managed to solve the riddles in level 1, the most difficult, and therefore managed a glimpse of the second vignette of the next book, a world exclusive.

The easiest level, which is still tough, gave 75 of you a chance to see a drawing taken from the same volume. Overall, only 15 Web surfers managed to solve both sets of enigmas! But hurry, you only have about ten days to solve these mysteries (which make Dan Brown's Da Vincix Code look simple, pffff!)
and catch a glimpse of the new vignettes by Albert Uderzo!

This is it: the Grand Slam!
After the clay courts of Roland-Garros, where our heroes and their favourite enemies clashed mercilessly in the first two rounds, the tour has now been transported to the home of the Britons (Great Britain, that is) so that the third round, which begins today, can take place on the grass courts of Wimbledon, my dear!
Now things are getting serious!

Expect some bloody battles, because while Asterix and Obelix look to be strong seeds, certain other stars could easily find themselves in trouble…
Timandahaf was once the victim of a judge's error and, in fact, was all too willing to "explain" this to the judge himself when they met in the changing rooms…
So, be sure to support all your favourite characters on the English grass.

The thirty-third volume of the adventures of Asterix is finished. Last week, Albert Uderzo finished the last of this brand new edition's 44 sensational plates. The pen and ink artist should be completing his work this week. There has been a slight delay as a result of the surgical collar he has been wearing, having suffered from a touch of whiplash when he was only on the 33rd plate… You should also know that the lettering artist is currently undergoing sleep therapy, after the exhausting schedule imposed on him by our local Viking here in the Village, Sinonpaf (sounding like "Ifnottakethat" in English!). As for the colourist, he's now on the thirty-eighth plate… Although he appears calm on the surface, as soon as you talk to him, first he bites and then he says: "no, no, I won't say a thing, I won't say a thing, and don't say anything to my wife either…". No worries, James, we're all with you! He's just a little tired according to the man at the top, Albert Uderzo: "Take a holiday, my friend", Albert said to him, "…after the forty-fourth plate". Then I heard a loud thud in the office, as if a heavy object had just hit the floor….
The title is: "Asterix…", er… my mind's gone blank, please forgive me. I do my best to keep you informed, but you must understand, I do have certain limits. The CIA (Caesar's Intelligence Agency) is looking over my shoulder. It has decided that the title will remain a secret until 14 October, and believe me, they'll do anything to keep the secret from coming out.

Just for your amusement, here is a photo of something that happened in the Madrid underground. It seems that the Spanish are both trendy and blessed with good taste: you'd be hard pressed to find anything more chic than decorating the doors of underground trains in the colours of our heroes! I think I'm just going to have to hold my breath until the trains of Lutecia follow suit!

And, while the Asterix animated films are celebrated on Great Britain's BBC2, the Germans are following an intensive course: in June, SAT1 broadcast Asterix and Obelix against Caesar (the live action film, for those who have not been following), and the cartoon, "Asterix the Gaul". The cartoon version of Asterix and Cleopatra will be shown on 25 June.