Netflix as announced a new animation of Asterix coming in 2023

Dominique Bazay, the Netlix Director, Original Animation has given a statement explaining the reasons why now is the time for Asterix and how Alain Chabat came to be involved. We’ve trimmed to give you the highlights, but you can read the whole announcement on the Netflix news site. Here’s some of Bazay’s statement:

‘…Netflix and France’s leading publisher are teaming up to present Asterix, an iconic figure of French popular culture, to a new generation of worldwide viewers. We’re partnering with Hachette’s Les Editions Albert René to create the first-ever animated limited series based on the timeless classic. Renowned French auteur and playwright Alain Chabat will direct and Alain Goldman (Legende Films) will produce…

…[Chabat] wrote and directed 2002’s Mission Cléopâtre, the most successful of Asterix’s numerous appearances on screen and the third highest-grossing feature film in French history…

…the first graphic novel was introduced in 1961, 38 volumes have been released in 111 languages and dialects, with the 39th due later this year. (And there have also been 15 feature films dating back to 1967.) These stories tell the saga of the pugnacious warrior and his irreverent village companions who keep a tiny corner of ancient Gaul free from bumbling Roman invaders.

…Our series will be adapted from one of the classic volumes, Asterix and the Big Fight, where the Romans […] organize a brawl between rival Gaulish chiefs and try to fix the result by kidnapping a druid along with his much-needed magic potion. I’m not giving anything away when I tell you, it doesn’t go as planned.’

The series is expected in 2023.