“It did not work”: over 50 years ago, this legend of French cinema met the creators of Asterix to embody the little Gauls, but he had only one condition!

Christian Clavier, Clovis Cornillac, Edouard Baer, ​​Guillaume Canet … Not to mention the comedians who lent their voice to the famous little Gauls created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, several French actors have already slipped into the braies of Asterix, sporting his famous mustache and his legendary feathers.

“We were very proud to have lunch with him”

However, well before the first adaptation in real shots of the legendary comic in 1999, a real legend of hexagonal cinema had almost played the role first. Indeed, as Uderzo had told us when he had come to our microphone in 2014, Louis de Funès himself was interested in the character in the mid-60s.

“We had lunch with Louis de Funès because he had asked us for making a film with Asterix. So we were very proud to have lunch with him because he is an extraordinary character, in life as in the films”told us about the author and designer of Asterix.

“At times, he held back, and then at times, it was coming out, and it had the impression that he was in a film. I had it in front of me at the table, I lived an extraordinary moment.”

“He wanted the main role, but without mustache”

Despite this unforgettable meeting, the collaboration unfortunately did not take place between the creators of the Petit Gauls and the famous comic actor, for a very specific reason.

“It didn't work because he wanted to do Asterix, of course, he wanted the main role, but without mustache”continues Uderzo.

“He was afraid that we do not recognize him. We said to him: 'You know, without a mustache, we will distort the character. People will not understand.' And then it didn't work for other reasons.

Obviously, whether one is a fan of Asterix, Louis de Funès or both, we can't help but think about this failed meeting with a little twinge in the heart, and wondering what would have been like an adaptation of the legendary comic strip carried by Louis de Funès. Especially since according to rumors, it was Lino Ventura who would have camped the character of Obelix.

(Re) Discover our video dedicated to Asterix …