Asterix in Terra Mitica

estimated to bring €30 million to the area

Remember a few months ago we told you about a new Asterix film being shot down the road in Alicante? Well, it's been 'lights, camera, Asterix,' for a while now in the City of Light studios where most of Gerard Depardieu's latest project, 'Asterix and the Olympic Games' is being produced.

This week the cast and crew upped sticks and moved to Benidorm to film scenes in Terra Mitica's Circus Maximus. If you don't already know, this 3000 seat Roman style amphitheatre, is inspired by the Theatre of Marcellus which still stands after 2000 years in Rome.The production has a whopping budget of €78 million - but why waste money recreating Rome for a second time when it's already on your doorstep?

The film and TV business is seen as very important to the area -Terra Mitica's installations have been used many times previously on both the big and small screens - and the production of this film is estimated to bring €30 million to the area. This is made up of around 42,000 nightly stays in hotels and the pay of the thousands of extras and technical staff employed from the Costa Blanca.

If you do go and see the film look out for Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Michael Schumacher who have small cameo roles.

9 November 2006 Stephen White.