‘Léon’ meets ‘Nikita’: Luc Besson starts filming ‘Anna’
Image: Instagram/@lucbesson
The French director took to Instagram as production started on his upcoming movie, “Anna”, revealing that the film will be a crime movie bringing together the worlds of “Nikita” and “Léon”, two of the most emblematic movies of his career.
Luc Besson has been very discreet about his latest movie but that may change in the coming weeks. The director, who is particularly active on social media, has shared a few photos that give away scant details about his current project.
ANNA When Nikita meets Leon… 😎💥🔪💣❤️ #cinema #film #sashaluss#helenmirren #lukeevans #cillianmurphy
The upcoming picture is called “Anna”, which is also the name of its lead character. After Isabelle Adjani (Héléna in “Subway”), Anne Parillaud (“Nikita”), Natalie Portman (Mathilda in “The Professional”), Milla Jovovich (Leeloo in “The Fifth Element”), Rie Rasmussen (“Angel-A”) and Cara Delevingne (Laureline in “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”), the French filmmaker has picked Sasha Luss to take the female lead this time around. The 25-year-old Russian model previously starred in “Valerian” for the role of Princess Lihö-Minaa.
As for the plot, fans will have to wait a little longer to find out what’s in store for this new Besson heroine. For the moment, the director has merely said that “Anna” will be a crime film (or “polar” in French) involving some kind of meeting between “Léon” and “Nikita”, referencing two of the most iconic movies of his career, without going into any more detail. Even the photo posted on Instagram doesn’t give much away, showing Sasha Luss covering herself with a sheet in what appears to be a luxury hotel room.
ANNA Be ready!🔪💣💥🕶⚔️🔫❤️ #sasha luss#cillianmurphy #lukeevans #helenmirren #film#cinema#polar
The young actress will be joined in the cast by Helen Mirren, seen recently in “Fast and Furious 8”, as well as Luke Evans (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Irish actor Cillian Murphy (“Dunkirk”).
While waiting to find out more about “Anna”, fans who missed the director’s recent movie “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” in theaters can expect the home media release on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on Nov. 21. Released in theaters in July, the sci-fi movie based on the French comic book series by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières grossed $225 million worldwide. JB
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