It is now official: French actor, writer, and director Jonathan Cohen will direct the next live-action Astérix movie. The news, first reported by Variety and confirmed by French media including AlloCiné and Télé 7 Jours, marks a major new chapter in the cinematic history of the famous Gaulish heroes.

A New Direction for Astérix on Screen

Unlike previous live-action adaptations that drew directly from the classic comic albums by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, this upcoming production will be inspired by the 1976 animated feature Les Douze Travaux d’Astérix (The Twelve Tasks of Asterix). This film, created by Goscinny and Uderzo themselves, was the only fully original Astérix story written specifically for cinema, not adapted from an existing comic. It followed Astérix and Obelix as they attempted a series of seemingly impossible challenges set by Julius Caesar.

The new adaptation will be produced by StudioCanal, with shooting expected to begin in 2026. Casting has not yet been announced.

Who Is Jonathan Cohen?

Jonathan Cohen, born in Paris in 1980, is one of France’s most popular comedic actors. He first gained recognition in the Canal+ sketch show Bloqués and the cult improvisational series Serge le Mytho. International audiences may know him from Netflix’s Family Business (2019–2021).

Cohen is also an experienced creator and director, having written and directed the satirical Canal+ series La Flamme (a parody of The Bachelor) and its sequel Le Flambeau (a parody of Survivor). In 2023, he appeared in Astérix et Obélix: The Middle Kingdom (L’Empire du Milieu), where he played the character Graindemaïs.

His appointment as director marks the first time he will lead an Astérix feature film, following in the footsteps of filmmakers such as Claude Zidi, Alain Chabat, Laurent Tirard, and Guillaume Canet.

The Legacy of The Twelve Tasks of Asterix

The original 1976 animated film holds a special place in the franchise’s history. Written and produced by the creators themselves, it has long been considered a cult favorite among fans for its surreal humor and memorable scenes, such as the “House That Sends You Mad” sequence satirizing bureaucracy. Adapting this story into a live-action format is a bold choice that could bring a fresh perspective to the franchise.

What Comes Next?

At this stage, no release date or casting details have been confirmed. However, with Cohen currently working on the screenplay and StudioCanal attached to production, this project is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated French films of the coming years.