A new trailer for The Fifth Element filmmaker Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has been released online. Based on the long-running French comic Valérian and Laureline, which was first published in 1967, the film stars Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan as special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. The two are tasked with a mission in the intergalactic city of Alpha, which finds them in direct conflict with unforeseen forces that put them in grave danger.

I'll say this for Valerian: it looks completely different than any other movie coming out this summer.  Even a film like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 seems to at least tether you to a comfortable place with familiar tunes and wise-ass characters.  By comparison, Besson is swinging for the fences with a movie that could be absolutely bonkers and it doesn't really care what you think.  I'm not sure if it will all come together, but I love the ambition and I hope that Besson has come up with a worthy successor to The Fifth Element.

Watch the new Valerian trailer below. The film also stars Clive OwenRihannaEthan HawkeJohn GoodmanHerbie Hancock, and Kris WuValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opens in theaters on July 21st.

Here's the official synopsis for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets:

Rooted in the classic graphic novel series, Valerian and Laureline- visionary writer/director Luc Besson advances this iconic source material into a contemporary, unique and epic science fiction saga. Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valerian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner- blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him.

 

Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.

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Image via EuropaCorp
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Image via EuropaCorp

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