Mechanics of the Heart in 3-D
Luc Besson's EuropaCorp to Animate Mathias Malzieu's Novel
Luc Besson's EuropaCorp is making Mathias Malzieu's novel La Mécanique du Coeur (The Mechanics of the Heart) into a 3-D animated movie.
According to Variety, EuropaCorp has bought the film adaptation rights to French rocker Mathias Malzieu's novel The Mechanics of the Heart (La Mécanique du Coeur in French). Luc Besson's production, distribution and sales house plans to make the novel into a 3-D animated film.
Malthieu will write and co-direct the flick, which comes to theatres in 2010 or 2011.
The Mechanics of the Heart Is Also Dionysos CD
Set in 1874, The Mechanics of the Heart is about a young man whose heart was replaced by a clock. In the tale, he has to avoid strong emotions (especially love) but finds it increasingly difficult to control his feelings.
The concept also inspired the sixth studio album by Malthieu's band, Dionysos, which was launched concurrently with the novel. Malthieu is the lead singer and guitarist for the group, known for their surreal and literate lyrics. One of their best known songs, "La Métamorphose de Mister Chat," follows a ladies' man who is transformed into a cat. Dionysos' biggest hit, "Song for Jedi," contains the English chorus, "When I was a child, I was a Jedi."
Stephane Berla, who directs Dionysos' videos, is the other director for the movie. Joann Sfar, who did the artwork for The Mechanics of the Heart novel and CD, will help adapt the novel for the silver screen.
Besson Has Two Arthur and the Invisibles Sequels Prepared
Luc Besson is also prepping two sequels to his 2006 film Arthur and the Invisibles (known as Arthur and the Minimoys everywhere else). Arthur and the Invisibles, despite questionable edits by its American distributor and an appalling English dub which featured "voice talent" like Snoop Dogg and long-time Razzie bait Madonna, created enough box office that a pair of sequels was deemed appropriate.
Arthur and the Vengeance of Malthazard is scheduled to start filming in 2009, and the third film, Arthur and the War of Two Worlds (Arthur et la Guerre des Deux Mondes in France) will go into production in 2010. Both movies are based on the filmmaker's bestselling series of children's novels.
So much for Luc Besson's assertion that Arthur and the Invisibles was going to be his last film.
Fun Fact: Luc Besson has been married three times. His first marriage was to actor Anne Parillaud, for whom he wrote the spectacular La Femme Nikita (which was later turned into the craptacular No Way Out, starring Bridget Fonda). They also had a daughter together.
After splitting with Parillaud, Besson dated Maïwenn Le Besco, with whom he had another daughter. Besson then took up with model/actor Milla Jovovich (who he directed in 1997's The Fifth Element), marrying her in 1997 but divorcing in 1999. In 2004, Besson married his third wife, this time to Virginie Silla.
