I thought it was brilliant.
I cant remember the last time I had so much fun in a cinema.
Like this, you know?
Mummies are 4,000 years old.
So, theyre pretty smart, you know?
They have so much knowledge.
Ours take their tea and are polite.
It was a lot of fun doing this one.
Eight to twelve-year-olds, they love it too.
Ive seen the film a few times with kids, and its so wonderful.
The technologys there now, too, to bring those characters to life.
You couldnt have made this film ten years ago.
No, and this is probably your most effects-heavy live-action film sinceThe Fifth Element, isnt it?
In terms of marrying effects with live action.
In fact, with the mummies, its an actor playing them.
Hes in a grey suit with dots all over it.
For me, Im just directing an actor.
Nothings changed for me at all.
Its pretty easy for me.
If you give me an actor to play the mummy, its the same.
Because, technically, one thing thats quite interesting, is Ramses II is the real one.
Yeah, we modelled him on the real one.
Ive seen people who know about ancient Egypt, and theyre amazed.
They say, Oh, my God.
Youve really taken Ramses II.
And Patmosis, also.
They go from the original [photograph].
Whats interesting is, theyre the real guys.
They didnt have the same health, the same food.
All this was very bad at the time, so people basically had ears like this, big noses.
They looked very [cartoon-like].
Too much, perhaps.
But they were looking like this at the time.
What is it that attracts you to strong female characters?
Since the 70s, cinema has been much more male-oriented Clint Eastwood, Schwarzenegger, Stallone.
From the 80s, these big, testosterone male actors Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, all those guys.
We can have both now, and thats good.
It wasnt a direct reference.
But I remember, when you get the nuclear explosion.
It wasnt a straight reference, but it is a little similar.
Its more a reference to ancient Egypt, where they always had a back door with a tunnel.
When you find the kings room, its never really the kings room.
Its always hidden somewhere.
I remember after I wrote the scene, someone said, Oh, thats a bit like the fridge.
But thats just the kind of joke I love.
Its almost like an ice cream desert.
Its so enjoyable, its like skipping the main course and going straight to desert.
The films almost like that.
I made the film in the middle of the financial crisis.
The world was falling apart everywhere.
Do you find female characters more interesting to write?
Men are supposed to be strong, and I like to show them when theyre weak.
So, I just like to reverse- to have a hero crying is very interesting.
But to have a small, female character fighting for the world is more interesting.
I know youve rejected suggestions of making a sequel toLeonin the past.
Theres been talk on the Internet, but its fake, speculation, because we never wrote a sequel.
I dont want to make a sequel for commercial reasons, just because people want it, you know?
Im honest, so if one day I find an amazing story to tell, I will.
But at the moment, thats not the case.
Ridley Scotts returning to theAlienuniverse thirty years on withPrometheus.
Do you think it works when directors return to a premise after so long?
There are no rules.
Just venture to keep your honesty, thats all.
If I do do it, its because I feel I can do one thats even better.
One sequel you have written now, of course.
Lots of people said, Takenis so good.
Are you going to make a sequel?
And my answer was, No, I dont see how… And I never finished the sentence.
Id just say, I dont see how… or maybe, if we… Oh!
That could be good.
But I think Ive got one.
So then, were going to have a sequel.
The storys very good.
But we wont have a third one.
Well have a second one, because its almost a continuation of the first movie.
You could even take one and two together, in a way, and that works.
But I dont think well go likeTransporter, for example, with two, three and four.
Well stop at the two.
But we have room for a good second one.
And you wrote the sequel with Liam Neeson in mind, specifically?
Were going to shoot in November.
You havent directed an English live-action film in some time.
Ive directed an English language film out this summer, calledThe Lady.
Its going to be about another female action figure.
Its about Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
She spent twenty-three years under house arrest in Burma.
She won the Nobel Prize in the 90s, and shes still alive.
Shes like a female Ghandi, shes such a figure.
That was quite a long shoot, a big, epic thing.
It was totally different, much more serious.
I will never make a porn film.
[laughs] I dont see myself doing a Western.
I think you must be American to do one.
You must be in love to make a film.
You must be in love.
So, as long as Im not in love, I dont make one.
And can you predict with whom youll fall in love?
[shrugs] You love the brunette, but then you marry the blonde one!
So, what is it that you enjoy about the action genre?
Thats one you do keep returning to.
The funny thing is, I produce far more action films than I direct.
I love to writeTransporterorTaken, but Im not interested in making it.
Action is very technical, in a way.
You need invention, in a way.
Im more interested in characters and emotion.
So, when it comes to straight action films, Im not so interested as a director.
LeonandNikita, there isnt so much action in them, in terms of pace.
Sometimes you have one little fast action scene for two minutes, but its more atmosphere.
As you say, its the characterisation that makes those films so memorable.
Which aspect do you prefer, then, in your career?
The writing process, producing or directing?
How do you generate your ideas?
you’re gonna wanna have all your senses open.
you should probably keep yourself in life, real life.
You become disconnected and you have nothing to say.
Most of the rich people Ive met are boring.
I have so much more fun with my boulanger [baker].
When I go at 6am for my croissants, the guys so passionate about his croissants.
Oh, you must try this one, because this morning I changed the butter!
Watching old people in the park, talking about their lives.
Thats where it comes, from food and talking.
I sat on the plane over here with a guy who studied cancerous molecules.
Thats where it comes from.
Its fed from all these people who come from life.
How did you end up here, selling fast food?
And he says, I studied the history of Greece, but theres no work for me.
You learn so much from these people.
Luc Besson, thank you very much.
The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adele Blanc-Sec is out in UK cinemas on 22nd April.
