Besson chose a pair of young, unconventional leads to embody his space-faring heroes. (known for his roles in Chronicle and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ) was cast as Major Valerian , a skilled, cocky, and somewhat womanizing operative. Model and actress Cara Delevingne was cast as Sergeant Laureline , Valerian’s more pragmatic and competent partner. The supporting cast was a star-studded affair, featuring Clive Owen as Commander Arun Filitt, Rihanna in a memorable cameo as the shape-shifting dancer Bubble, Ethan Hawke as her pimp, Jolly the Pimp, and even a cameo from musician Herbie Hancock.
: The first alien species to integrate into Alpha, known for their distinct abstract physiology. 💼 Economic Ambition and the Box Office Gamble Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
Many reviews could be summarized by this sentiment: "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets uses sheer kinetic energy and visual thrills to overcome narrative obstacles and offer a viewing experience whose surreal pleasures often outweigh its flaws". Others were less forgiving, labeling it "a nearly 140 minutes slog through poor storytelling, boring characters, laughably bad dialogue, and CGI overload". The Rotten Tomatoes consensus that "the visuals are amazing, but the witless banter recalls Katherine Heigl and Gerald Butler far more than it stirs memories of Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott" became a recurring theme in the film's postmortem. Besson chose a pair of young, unconventional leads
: The game features high-quality artwork inspired by Luc Besson's film and the original comics. Prequel Storyline The supporting cast was a star-studded affair, featuring
Beneath the neon surface, the film’s narrative is a sharp critique of colonialism and military industrialism. The plight of the Pearls—an indigenous species whose planet was destroyed as collateral damage in a human war—mirrors real-world histories of displaced populations. The film’s refusal to paint the human military (represented by Clive Owen’s Commander Filitt) as a purely benevolent force complicates the traditional "space police" trope. Instead, Valerian argues that the preservation of a peaceful status quo often hides systemic injustices against "lesser" civilizations.
Nearly $200 million, making it one of the most expensive European films ever made.
Despite its visual brilliance, the film received mixed reactions regarding its casting and chemistry. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne brought a youthful, modern energy to the lead roles, though some fans of the original comics felt the dynamic differed from the source material. However, the supporting cast, including a memorable performance by Rihanna as the shapeshifting Bubble and Ethan Hawke as the eccentric Jolly the Pimp, added layers of camp and charisma to the sprawling narrative.