BAFTA nominated French filmmaker Luc Besson follows up his 2014 film 'Lucy' with the electric sci-fi crime thriller 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'. The stunning first trailer has just been released and it already feels very 'Fifth Element'. Plus, it introduces Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne in starring roles.

Valerian cast[L-R] Dane DeHaan, Clive Owen and Cara Delevingne in 'Valerian...'

Based on the French graphic novel series 'Valérian and Laureline' by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the story follows two badass government agents named Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) who travel through time and space protecting the human race and upholding the law across the universe. 

Cara Delevingne in ValerianCara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan star in 'Valerian...'

One day, their Commander Arün Filitt (Clive Owen) charges them to visit the seventeen-million strong city of Alpha; a sprawling metropolis that houses a variety of mainly benevolent alien species who all work together and combine their abilities and their knowledge to make their world the best it can possibly be. However, there's someone out there who is trying to undo this unity and their nefarious scheming challenges the safety of all. 

Watch the trailer for 'Valerian' here:


 

Meanwhile, Laureline is also forced to fight off the repeated romantic advances of Valerian, with whom she only sees a professional relationship. If the trailer's anything to go by, sometimes she's forced to get violent. 

Directed and written by Luc Besson ('The Fifth Element', 'Lucy'), the film will mark his first directorial venture in three years. He has also completed screenwriting work on the upcoming films 'Warrior's Gate' and 'Renegades', and has been announced to write 'Lucy 2', 'Colombiana 2', and the Jean-François Richet thriller 'Twice'.

More: Read our review of 'Lucy'

Also starring in the movie are Ethan Hawke and Rutger Hauer in as yet unnamed roles, while Rihanna makes an appearance as the glamorous Bubble; a dancer who appears to be able to change her appearance at will.

RihannaRihanna makes an appearance in 'Valerian...'

An interesting thing about the trailer is that it features a sensational remixed version of the Beatles 1969 song 'Because', marking the first time that a Beatles song has ever been used in a trailer without it being a cover.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is set to be released in US movie theatres on July 21st 2017.