Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion

Company type	Film
Industry	Animation, Film
Founded	2018 (2018)
Founder	Alexandre Astier, Louis Clichy
Products	Animated film
Parent	M6 Group, Mikros Image

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion () is a 2018 French animated family adventure comedy co-directed by Alexandre Astier and Louis Clichy. Serving as a follow-up to 2014's Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods, the script, written by Astier, draws upon the Asterix comic book characters originally created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. This film represents a departure from tradition as it is the first time Roger Carel did not voice Asterix due to his retirement and subsequent passing; instead, Christian Clavier, who had previously embodied Asterix in live-action adaptations, provides the character’s voice.

The movie was produced by M6 Group alongside Mikros Image, with a production budget of €33.7 million and global box office earnings totaling $73.2 million. It premiered in France on 5 December 2018 through SND, while Icon Film Distribution managed the English-language version released in Australia beginning 30 May 2019.

Plot

Outside the Gaulish village, druid Getafix breaks his foot and decides it is time to find someone to inherit his secret magic potion formula that grants extraordinary strength. He sets off with Asterix and Obelix to attend a druid convention, where a young girl named Pectine secretly hides inside his cauldron. The gathering is interrupted by Getafix’s adversary, Sulfurix (known as Demonix in English), who causes turmoil before escaping. Determined to find a worthy successor, Getafix travels throughout Gaul accompanied by Chief Vitalstatistix and several men, while Cacofonix remains behind with the women and the potion reserves to protect the village from Roman attacks.

Sulfurix approaches Julius Caesar with an offer for the potion’s secret recipe and, aided by Senator Tomcrus, plots an assault on the village once their supply of potion runs dry. He enlists Teleferix (Cholerix), a naive young druid, teaching him magic in an attempt to impress Getafix. Asterix uncovers their scheme but is captured before he can alert others. Sulfurix then sets fire to the sacred druid forest; meanwhile, Getafix appoints Teleferix as his successor. Reports arrive that Cacofonix and the women have depleted their potion stockpile.

Getafix recruits Obelix, Pectine, and Teleferix to collect ingredients for a new batch of potion, but Sulfurix steals them and casts a spell that freezes Obelix. Upon returning home, Getafix discovers that other druids have squandered his reserve ingredients experimenting with their own mixtures. Sulfurix commands Teleferix to prepare the potion; however, one crucial ingredient is missing. Accidentally enhancing the incomplete potion with fire magic, Sulfurix consumes it and launches an attack on both Gauls and Romans.

Pectine brings Getafix remaining ingredients, revealing that the missing component is a drop of magic potion from an earlier batch concealed on Getafix’s golden sickle. After Getafix confronts Sulfurix—who is saved by Asterix and Obelix—Sulfurix is knocked out of the village but lands in a potion pool that enlarges him into a giant. In response, Romans and Gauls unite, drink Pectine’s potion, while Getafix uses magic to transform Roman legionaries into a colossal centaur-like robot piloted by Obelix, ultimately defeating Sulfurix.

With peace restored, the Romans withdraw. Getafix encourages Teleferix to continue his magical training. At the celebratory feast, Pectine hints at her potential future as Getafix’s successor if she keeps the secret recipe close to heart.

Cast

Character		Original Voice Actor	English Voice Actor
Original Name	English Name
Astérix	Asterix	Christian Clavier	Ken Kramer
Obélix	Obelix	Guillaume Briat	C. Ernst Harth
Panoramix	Getafix	Bernard Alane	John Innes
Sulfurix	Demonix	Daniel Mesguich	Michael Shepherd
Pectine	Pectin	Lévanah Solomon	Fleur Delahunty
Téléférix	Cholerix	Alex Lutz	Michael Adamthwaite
Oursenplus	Somniferus	Alexandre Astier	Jason Simpson
Cubitus	Tofungus	Elie Semoun	Sam Vincent
Atmosférix	Atmospherix	Gerard Hernandez	Alec Willows
Cétautomatix	Fulliautomatix	Lionnel Astier	Scott McNeil
Ordralfabétix	Unhygienix	François Morel	Jason Simpson
Bonemine	Impedimenta	Florence Foresti	Saffron Henderson
Sénateur Tomcrus	Senator Tomcrus	Olivier Saladin	Andrew Cownden
Assurancetourix	Cacofonix	Arnaud Léonard
Abraracourcix	Vitalstatistix	Serge Papagalli	Don Brown
Humérus	Humerus	Franck Pitiot	Michael Adamthwaite
Huiledolix	Breadstix	Alexandre Astier	Jason Simpson
Agecanonix	Geriatrix	Laurent Morteau	Ron Halder
Jules César	Julius Caesar	Philippe Morier-Genoud	Mark Oliver
Climatoseptix	Cakemix	François Raison	Brian Drummond
Fantasmagorix	Phantasmagorix	Patrick Bonnel	Howard Siegel
Fotovoltahix		Nicky Naudé	Richard Newman (actor)
Aplusbégalix	Cassius Ceramix	Patrick Pineau	Brian Dobson (actor)
Triple-Patte	Pegleg	Daniel Laloux	Richard Newman
Iélosubmarine	Bacteria	Joëlle Sevilla	Unknown
Virgindaikirix		Unknown	Jason Simpson

Box office

The movie debuted in France on 5 December 2018, earning upwards of $2 million on its initial Wednesday release and accumulating close to $7 million by the end of Sunday.

External links

• Official Website