Remaining very faithful to the comic strip, the film was directed by Alain Chabat, who loves the Asterix universe and has always said that he was a great Goscinny fan. During the film, and helped along by a touch of the imperial syndrome (he plays Caesar), he believed he was becoming somewhat “caliph instead of the caliph” (stock phrase of Iznogoud the Infamous, a Goscinny comic strip character)! However, this pathology, according to the late René, is always provisional, as Iznogoud has never actually conquered … Veni, vidi, but vici, really, Caesar?
The DVD has a long, hugely enjoyable making-of section and all kinds of extras. A fine French production!