Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets centers on a titular duo of space- and time-traveling agents. The cast also includes Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu. [Photo provided to China Daily]

He first felt he couldn't match up to Cameron's project but later got back to writing the script again. Besson spent seven years on producing the title.

He invited designers from different countries to separately work on designing roles of aliens and sets.

Even his harshest critics－the movie has been screened in most countries since July 21 to mixed reviews－admit Besson's imagination has worked.

From a dazzling alien stripper (played by Rihanna) to a breathtaking chase for an exotic jellyfish, the movie showcases many aliens and their habitats in the 28th century.

Besson says the sequences with Rihanna used four dancers and were shot over six days, plus another two years of post-production.

Besson prefers to show the more human side of his characters, compared with Hollywood sci-fi tales that show space fighters as tough heroes.

"Valerian is a cop. Most of the time he is pretentious and making bad jokes. Sometimes he is lucky. He is not very intelligent, like most of the men," he says.

"The one who is ruling the house is the girl, like in life. What I try to show in the film is a reflection of today."

The film is led by US actor Dane DeHaan as Valerian and English model-actress Cara Delevingne as Laureline.

It also features Rihanna, Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke and jazz musician Herbie Hancock.

Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu is also part of the cast.