Rihanna’s acting career has seen a significant boost in the last year, as the singer has booked key/starring roles in high profile projects, including playing the iconic Marion Crane in the current season of the critically-acclaimed “Bates Motel” A&E series, joining the all-woman “Ocean’s Eleven” Film, “Ocean’s Eight,” as one of the “eight” (playing a character’s named “Nine Ball”), and booking a “big part” in Luc Besson’s upcoming space opera “Valerian” – his “epic” big screen adaptation of the French sci-fi comic, which will be titled “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.”
Although we still don’t really know how involved Rihanna’s character is with the story the film tells, Besson did previously share that Rihanna “has a big part,” which he was “sooo excited” about, when her casting was announced. It was also reported that she inhabits “several personas” in the film, which could mean anything. Maybe the character is some kind of chameleon. She certainly hasn’t featured much in the trailers we’ve seen thus far; but she’s a big enough name now (or it could be that her role is indeed significant enough) that the character she plays has received her own character poster which premiered today (see it below).
Here’s an official plot summary: Set in the 28th century, and 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.
With a reported budget of $180 million, Besson has described the film as “kind of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’” but in space.
A July 21, 2017 release date is set for “Valerian.”
Playing a character named Bubble, here’s the character poster:
