12/07/2002 - The Spanish actress and Hollywood's latest darling returns to Europe and a role made famous by Gina Lollobrigida

Hollywood´s current exotic favourite, Penelope Cruz found the idea of stepping into Gina Lollobrigida´s shoes and play Adeline in the fourth film adaptation of the story of Fanfan La Tulipe, this time directed by Gérard Krawczyk. Christian-Jaque´s 1952 version that turned Gérard Philipe into an international household name (Vincent Perez has accepted this part) was preceded by a 1907 and 1927 version. The new film is being produced by Luc Besson´s Europa Corp. and is part of his more wide ranging strategy to bring popular French heroes to a new audience. Besson, renowned for futuristic sci-fi titles like the 5th Element, was also behind Joan of Arc starring his then-wife Milla Jovovich and more recently, Michel Vaillant, based on the life of the French Formula 1 racing driver.

(Translated from French)