You know that feeling when you watch a movie and can’t decide if the casting was a stroke of genius or a total fever dream? That is the vibe of Luc Besson’s 2017 space epic. Looking back at the Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets actors, it’s a list that feels like someone threw names into a particle accelerator just to see what would come out. You have Oscar nominees, pop royalty, indie darlings, and literal jazz legends all sharing the screen.
Honestly, the movie is a bit of a polarizing beast. Some people love the visual candy; others can’t get past the chemistry of the leads. But no matter where you land, you have to admit the ensemble is fascinating. It’s a mix of performers who were either right on the edge of superstardom or were already icons in their own right.
The main duo: Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne
The heart of the movie rests on the shoulders of Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne. As Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline, they are the space-faring partners trying to save the city of Alpha.
Dane DeHaan was a choice that confused a lot of people at the time. Most of us knew him from Chronicle or his role as Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He has this naturally brooding, intense energy. Putting him into the role of a cocky, Han Solo-type hero felt... different. He plays Valerian as a bit of an arrogant, immature soldier who is desperately trying to convince his partner to marry him. Some critics felt he lacked the traditional "action hero" charisma, but he definitely brought a unique, almost wiry energy to the role.
Then you have Cara Delevingne. She was already a massive name in the modeling world, but she was really trying to plant her flag in Hollywood around 2017. Her Laureline is actually the more capable of the two. She’s smarter, more focused, and basically spends the whole movie rolling her eyes at Valerian’s antics. If you’ve seen her in Only Murders in the Building or Suicide Squad, you know she has a very specific, sharp screen presence. In Valerian, she arguably steals the show from DeHaan.
The supporting stars who stole the spotlight
While the leads did the heavy lifting, the supporting Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets actors are who people actually talk about years later.
Take Rihanna, for example. Her role as Bubble, the shapeshifting Glamopod, is probably the most memorable sequence in the entire film. She isn't just a cameo; she’s a legitimate emotional beat in the story. Watching her shift through multiple personas in that cabaret scene—going from a nurse to a French maid to a goth icon—was a masterclass in visual effects and performance. It was a big swing for Besson to cast a global pop star in such a pivotal, CGI-heavy role, and it mostly paid off.
- Clive Owen: He plays Commander Arün Filitt. You probably recognize him from Children of Men or Inside Man. Here, he’s the rigid authority figure with some pretty dark secrets. He plays the "stiff upper lip" military man perfectly.
- Ethan Hawke: He shows up for a few minutes as Jolly the Pimp. It’s a wild, scenery-chewing performance that feels like it’s from a completely different movie. Hawke clearly had a blast with the role.
- Herbie Hancock: Yes, the legendary jazz pianist. He plays the Defense Minister. It’s one of those "wait, is that really him?" moments that makes the movie feel so eclectic.
The voices behind the aliens
One thing people forget is how many famous voices are hidden behind the digital masks. Alpha is a "city of a thousand planets," so obviously, there are a lot of non-human characters.
John Goodman provides the voice for Igon Siruss, a massive, lizard-like pirate captain. It’s a deep, rumbling performance that adds a lot of weight to the early "Big Market" scenes. Then there’s Elizabeth Debicki, who voices the Emperor of the Pearls. You’ve seen her as Princess Diana in The Crown, but here, she uses that elegant, ethereal voice to bring a sense of tragedy to the displaced Pearl people.
It’s worth mentioning that the actors playing the Pearls were actually on set. They wore motion-capture suits to ensure their movements felt human and fluid. Even if you only see CGI on screen, the performances of Sasha Luss and the other Pearl actors are what make those scenes work.
A cast that didn't follow the rules
Looking back, the Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets actors represent a very specific moment in 2010s filmmaking. Luc Besson was working with a massive budget—around $180 million—but he didn't go for the "safe" Marvel-style casting. He went for people he thought looked the part of a French comic book come to life.
Kris Wu, a massive star in China, was brought in as Sergeant Neza. This was a smart move for international box office appeal, but it also added to the truly global (or intergalactic) feel of the movie. You also have cameos from filmmakers like Louis Leterrier and Olivier Megaton. It’s like a giant party where everyone was invited.
What happened to everyone after the movie?
The film didn't exactly set the box office on fire in the US, but it has developed a massive cult following. The actors have moved on to some pretty huge things:
- Dane DeHaan: He recently appeared in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer as Kenneth Nichols. He’s moved back toward character-actor roles where his intensity really shines.
- Cara Delevingne: She’s continued to mix modeling with high-profile TV roles, including Carnival Row and American Horror Story.
- Clive Owen: He recently starred in the murder mystery series A Murder at the End of the World.
- Rihanna: Well, she’s Rihanna. She’s a billionaire mogul now, though we’re still all waiting for that next album.
Why the casting matters today
If you’re planning a rewatch, pay attention to how the actors interact with the environments. Most of this movie was shot on green screens in Paris. For the Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets actors, this was a massive technical challenge. They had to act against nothing for months.
The chemistry between DeHaan and Delevingne is often criticized, but if you view it as a specific "European sci-fi" aesthetic rather than a Hollywood rom-com, it starts to make more sense. They aren't supposed to be your typical "raillery and romance" couple. They’re weird, slightly awkward space cops.
If you want to dive deeper into how this movie was made, I’d suggest looking up the behind-the-scenes footage of the Rihanna dance sequence. It shows the incredible coordination between the dancer, the actress, and the VFX team. You can also check out the original Valérian and Laureline comics to see just how closely the actors were styled to match the source material.
Next time you’re scrolling through streaming services and see that colorful thumbnail, give it another shot. Even if the plot gets a bit messy, the sheer ambition of the cast is worth the price of admission.
Actionable Insights:
- Watch for the cameos: Keep an eye out for the "Captain Welcoming" roles—many are played by famous French directors.
- Check the voice credits: Listen closely to the alien leaders; the talent behind the CGI is top-tier.
- Compare the source: Look up the 1960s comic art to see how Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne were physically cast to mirror the original drawings.