The plot is a combination based on several of the Asterix albums by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (see the above article about the film).
The main stars are Christian Clavier, Gérard Depardieu, Roberto Benigni, Michel Galabru, Claude Piéplu.
In this version there are many references to other popular movies like The Matrix, and contemporary jokes which give a different perspective from the previous stories.
Astérix at the Olympic Games is the third live action Asterix film, released in 2008, and based on the comic book of the same name.
Aside from Gérard Depardieu as Obelix and brief cameos by Sim as Geriatrix and Jamel Debbouze as Edifis none of the cast members from the previous two films returned.
The film does have several celebrity cameo appearances by people such as Tony Parker, Zinedine Zidane and Michael Schumacher.
Filming began in June 2006 and the movie was planned to be released close to the date of the Beijing Olympic Games.