The blonde crying behind James Bond is something that I can't stand: Luc Besson

OUT IN THE UAE right now, Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets is a comic book turned visually-stunning sci-fi space opera from Luc Besson. In a freewheeling chat with the writer-director when he visited Dubai for the movie's Middle East premiere this weekend, Besson opened up about the state of equality in the film industry, why he believes in a better future and how he manages to conjure up these larger-than-life stories.
What is it about comic books that appeal as source material and why is it the right time to bring this '60s comic to the big screen?
French comics reflect our society, just like the Japanese reflect theirs and the comics of America reflect power. It's like literature, painting, songs or even cooking.
The relationship with Valerian was very strong when I was 10. There was no TV, no music, nothing at the time. There was one black and white channel and then every Wednesday in a magazine appears Valerian. It was a shock to see two space agents, driving a space ship, kicking aliens' butts. I couldn't believe it at 10. It was my escape. It was also my education. The theme of living together and protecting the planet, criticism of society...you learn. Then I grew up and had different types of 'food' [cultural influences]. Valerian didn't come back to me until I was working with the author Mezieres when he came onboard The Fifth Element. He asked me, 'why are you doing this stupid Fifth Element thing?' Why don't you do Valerian?' I looked back at the comic and I replied, 'because it's not possible.' Now that has changed. Today the only limit is imagination. We can do anything. After Avatar, we got all these tools and the field opened. Another reason is there has been a contraction of society right now. People want to imagine the future is bright. They want to see a better world.

Is that your personal opinion, that the future will be better?
The future is a blank page. I don't understand why creators fill it with something so dark. In all the sci-fi films from Hollywood it's always raining and dark and the hero is wandering around thinking deeply about everything. Come on! You have superpowers, have fun! As a movie goer I want to fight against that a bit. I want something that is funny and full of colour and optimism. In real life, over 10 centuries we have progressed as humans and we live better together. Over the last six months there has been a little bump in the road, but in four years we'll go back to normal. So I see the future getting better. I am optimistic with the young generation.

Laureline is a strong female lead as was Leeloo in The Fifth Element. Do you always seek to portray these types of characters?
I pay the exact same attention to male and female roles. When I wrote Leon, it's Leon and Mathilda. In The Fifth Element it's Korben Dallas and Leeloo. Here it's Valerian and Laureline. There is no extra weight given to either. What I do is normal. Most films are not normal. Having a male superhero posing and a woman hiding behind him does not reflect the life I know.
My mum was a nice woman and she fought for her life. My dad also fought in another way. The image of the blonde crying behind James Bond is something that I can't stand.

So why is it not called Valerian and Laureline?
It's on purpose. I play with it a little bit. He's major and she's a sergeant. She doesn't like that. She is ruling things most of the time and saving the day. That's a reflection of society today. She's the one doing things but doesn't get the credit. Women get paid less than men. The guy is always up at the front. Valerian and Laureline are equal in the film, but even though they're equal he gets the title.
What made you choose model Cara Delevingne for the role?
I tested Cara a lot. I tortured her. She cried a lot but I needed to know if she could handle it for six months. After the test I can tell you she's not a model at all. She's a model by chance. She just met someone and went for the ride. She is a natural born actress. She is finally home. As a person she is full of life and has everything she needs to be an actress. She will be here in 10 years and she will be bigger.
And Rihanna as the shape-shifting alien, Bubble?
Bubble is the ultimate artist. For me Rihanna is the queen. I thought about her since the beginning. I said at the start, 'For Bubble I am thinking about Rihanna.' They said, 'What's your second choice?' They thought she wouldn't do it. The first question we asked was if she was interested in being in a film. The answer was a definite yes. She wanted to play too. She didn't just want to be in it. She wanted a character. On the set she was normal. Even me at the beginning I hoped it wasn't going to be 'Rihanna and the great orchestra'. As soon as work started she sent everyone away and let me direct her. She was perfect.  

How do you go about writing a film of this scale?
I have been writing since I was 14. I wake up early and I am by myself. You can put: '1000 space ships,' cross it out and put: '2000 space ships.' It is great because there are no constraints. There is no management, which there is when you have to actually make the film. It is just creativity. I write with a pencil, I don't have a computer, and I start every story with 'Once upon a time.' That has never changed. I can't write without music in my head. I loop the same album while writing because it brings you back to the same thoughts and mood as where you left off the day before. For this film it was an Amy Winehouse album and then the latest Rihanna CD. 
Valerian in a nutshell
Written and directed by Besson, responsible for some of film's most celebrated features such as Leon: The Professional (1994), The Fifth Element (1997) and Lucy (2014), the movie has been a labour of love for several decades.
 Involving three companies and over 80 VFX designers on-set, Besson produced 2,734 special effects shots for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. In it, agents Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) embark on a mission to defeat an unknown force threatening to destroy Alpha, a city comprised of a thousand different species.
david@khaleejtimes.com