Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic Valerian welcomes aboard Clive Owen

I can't recall exactly when it was that I discovered the glory of Luc Besson's THE FIFTH ELEMENT, but I do know that I've never stopped loving it. Few of Besson's subsequent films have thrilled me the way THE FIFTH ELEMENT did, but I've got my fingers crossed that VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS might just have what it takes to wobble the lofty pedestal upon which I've placed Leeloo and Korben Dallas.

Luc Besson first announced his big screen adaptation of Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières’ comic several months ago which has Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne taking on the lead roles. Now Deadline, and Besson himself, have announced that Clive Owen has joined the cast of VALERIAN in the role of Commander Arün Filitt.

I know Clive Owen has been keeping busy, but it feel like its been a while since we last saw him in something big like this. There was talk of some film with Rebecca De Mornay that sounded interesting, something about brains, but it seems like that fell through. Luc Besson has been a fan of the Valerian comic ever since he was a young lad, but this is quite the passion project for him, and, with its $180 million price tag, quite the risk as well. VALERIAN follows a spatio-temporal agent by the name of Valérian and his female companion, Laureline, as they travel the universe through space and time.

Luc Besson had previously said that he'd like to begin production this December with the aim of having VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS in theaters by 2017.