50 BC. Julius Caesar is at the height of his power. The whole of Gaul (the future France) was occupied. All of it? No, because a village of die-hard Gauls resists and defies Roman power. Yet they don’t resist thanks to their tactics or discipline. Bon vivants, this band of misfits spends its time feasting and brawling. No, they resist thanks to the magic potion prepared by their druid, Getafix, which gives them superhuman strength for the duration of a battle.
But here’s the thing. Obelix, the invincible warrior who fell into the potion pot as a child, is still a big clumsy. He accidentally lands a menhir on the druid, who loses his mind and can no longer prepare the potion. Caesar prepares for his triumph: he asks an allied chief to challenge Vitalstatistix, the village headman, who is not very athletic. The winner will become the new chief, and then, at last, Gaul will be conquered! But that’s without Asterix’s cunning and bravery, and the courage of his band of friends.
Grumpy, brawling, but supportive and courageous: the French before their time
Asterix is the most famous French comic album series. Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, it was created in 1959 and has marked generations of readers. Almost 400 millions copies have been sold around the world. Several film adaptations have been made. Alain Chabat, genial actor and French star, brilliantly takes up the challenge of adapting the series format.
The drawings, the story and the characters all remain faithful to the spirit of the original comic strip. But after the first two episodes, the cinematography shows its added value. Splendid colors and lighting, emotions and action come together for a grand finale – with a cute little easter egg. Movie references abound, from James Bond to Pulp Fiction!
Let’s hope that this charming series will enable new generations to discover a nugget of French culture.
1 season, 5 episodes (30-40 mn), 2025, on Netflix
Created by Alain Chabat, WITH (English version) : Haydn Oakley as Asterix, Ben Crowe as Obelix, Daisy May Cooper as Impedimenta, Ruby Barker as Metadata, Jeanne Balibar as Apothika, Mark Meadows Williams as Julius Caesar, Nick Mercer as Mummy Caesar, Matt Wilkinson as Fastanfurius, Jon Glover as Getafix, John Wark as Vitalstatistix, Keith Wickham as Potus, Stewart Scydamore as Cassius Ceramix, David Monteath as Blackangus, Megan Gage as Hannabarbera