Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (French: Astérix & Obélix: L'Empire du Milieu) is a 2023 French Sword and Sandal/Wuxia comedy film and the fifth (in live-action) to be based on the René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo comic book series Asterix after Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, Asterix at the Olympic Games and Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia. This time, however, it is an original story not based off any comic book album.
Circa 50 BC, Princess Fu Yi, the only daughter of Chinese Han Dynasty Emperor Xuan, escapes from a rogue prince, Deng Tsin Qin, and flees to Gaul, seeking help from Gaulish warriors Asterix and Obelix. Meanwhile, Julius Caesar takes his Roman legions to China and allies himself to Deng Tsin Qin.
The cast includes Guillaume Canet (who also directed the film) as Asterix, Gilles Lellouche as Obelix, Julie Chen as Fu Yi, Vincent Cassel as Julius Caesar, Marion Cotillard as Cleopatra (and Tipsy), Pierre Richard as Getafix and, as usual, a slew of other actors, comedians and other celebrities in supporting roles and cameos. A companion picture book was released alongside the film, in the usual graphic style of the comic book series.
The film was released theatrically in French-speaking countries on February 1, 2023 and on Netflix worldwide on May 18, 2023.
Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom provides examples of:
- Actor Allusion: Getafix's part is played by Pierre Richard, who gets sucked into improbable quicksand just like his Unluckily Lucky character did in La Chèvre.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Just about every character is far more mean-spirited to themselves and each other. Vitalstatistix doesn't want to send help, Obelix makes snide comments and Asterix gets confrontational with Graindemais.
- Adaptational Wimp: In the original comics, Asterix is still a decent fighter even without the magic potion. In this movie, he can't beat a single Roman soldier without the potion.
- Advertised Extra: Marion Cotillard as Cleopatra. She's on the poster, but only has a few short appearances since she decides to stay behind in Rome when Caesar marches his army to China.
- Amazon Chaser: Obelix doesn't hide his attraction towards the Princess' bodyguard Tat Han.
- Casting Gag: Gérard Darmon is the Narrator. He played Artifis in Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.
- Chekhov's Gun: In the princess's flashback, the Empress shows her a coin with her effigy. Later in the movie, this comes into play to prove her identity to the courtiers of the Deng kingdom.
- Compensating for Something: According to Rikiki, Deng Tsing Qin is mocked by other lords for having a tiny... army.
- Epic Movie: Much like most of its predecessors, it was one of the most expensive French films ever made at the time of its release, costing in the vicinity of €70 million, boasting big sets, an All-Star Cast, 4D special effects etc.
- Fake Nationality: In-Universe: The Phoenician merchant Epidemais dyes his hair blond and goes by Epidemaix in China (and makes his underlings do the same), as Gaulish-made goods sell better.
- Fantasy Counterpart Appliance: Messenger pigeons are treated as the equivalent to cell phones, down to making their coo sound like the buzz of a phone on vibrate mode. In a post-credits scene, Cleopatra asks for a charger for her bird, though we don't see what that would look like.
- Genre Mashup: The film adds Wuxia-style action to the usual Sword and Sandal comedy mix due to taking place in ancient China.
- Gratuitous Princess: Certainly, Astérix and Obélix would have helped Fu Yi even if she was not a princess.
- Imperial China: The very first Asterix adventure to happen in China, at the time of the Han dynasty.
- Love at First Sight: There are moments in the movie when characters fall in love, accompanied by a soundtrack: Lionel Richie's "Say You, Say Me":
- When Grandemaïs brings the princess Fu Yi to Gaul, Asterix sees her and falls in love at once.
- Near the end of the movie, the prince of Deng takes off his bamboo mask and princess Fu Yi falls in love with him.
- Never My Fault: After the two of them cause a magic effect to fail by touching it, Graindemais asks Obelix why he messed with it.
- No More for Me: Titanix takes a meaningful look at his pipe (which the reggae background music had implied was full of weed) after seeing Asterix and Obelix punch guys through the ceiling.
- Nutritional Nightmare: The film opens with Asterix ranting to Obelix that they only ever eat boar and should balance their diet with vegetables.
- Phlebotinum Dependence: The movie treats Asterix drinking magic potion on par with a cocaine addiction, complete with him running out of sight to drink it.Obelix: We know what you were doing.
- Punny Name: Aside from the usual with 100 per cent of the "Gaulish" names and 90 per cent of the "Roman" ones:
- Tat Han sounds like "tatanne" in French, a slang word for "severe beating by way of martial arts".
- Tat Han's name in the English dub is changed to Ka Ra Te, which confusingly references a Japanese martial art.
- The Chinese villain's name is Deng Tsin Qin, which when said quickly sounds like "dancing queen"
- Quicksand Sucks: While talking to Obelix at the village at the beginning, Getafix gets sucked in quicksand (the presence of which in the village is as improbable as it gets, as noted by him). This is actually an Actor Allusion to La Chèvre (see above).
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Caesar learns that the Empress has an army of one million to his 80,000, he immediately gives up and leaves the field.
- Self-Deprecation: The excentric and awful singer Cacophonix is played by Philippe Katerine, a real-life French singer with an excentric persona.
- Self-Proclaimed Love Interest: Graindemais believes the Princess has a crush on him and states that they're a couple. Naturally, she's completely indifferent to him.
- Shaking Her Hair Loose: The Prince of Deng takes off his bamboo mask and reveals a long mane of blond hair, to princess Fu Yi's admiration.
- Shipper on Deck: Quite literally: When seeing Tat Han and Obelix standing near each other on his ship, Titanix gives the wheel a shake that sends her leaning on him.
- Something Else Also Rises: Whenever Asterix looks at Fu Yi, the wings on his helmet rise. His attempts to pull them down always fail.
- Spin Attack: During the final battle, Obelix spins around with his fists extended to beat up some Romans.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Much more vitriolic than usual, with Obelix being far more caustic than his usual Big Fun personality.
- Wax On, Wax Off: When Fu Yi ask Tat Han to learn her kung fu, the latter show her how to do laundry, by "Rubbing, wringing".
- When You Snatch the Pebble: Spoofed when Graindemais solves the problem of trying to take a coin from a blind old man... by punching him in the face.Graindemais: Didn't See That Coming, did you?
- Wuxia: This time, fantastical Chinese martial arts are added to the usual Sword and Sandal comedy mix.
- "These Chinese are crazy!"
