'The Fifth Element': 20 truths you might not be aware of

When a group of innovative French individuals collaborate on a film, the result can be remarkable. This was the case with "The Fifth Element," a beloved science-fiction film that originated solely from the imagination of director and co-writer Luc Besson. Originally a passion project, the movie became a major success. Now, we present to you the sixth element: 20 fascinating facts about this iconic sci-fi flick.

20Besson had spent a great deal of time on the concept.

Imagine if someone stumbled upon something you wrote as a teenager; it could be quite embarrassing. However, Luc Besson had no such concerns. He started crafting what would eventually become The Fifth Element when he was just a bored 16-year-old. The script eventually made its way to the big screen, showcasing Besson's early creative spark.

20A lengthy script was part of the original attempt to make the film.

When a script is in the works from your teenage years, it can tend to get a bit lengthy. Luc Besson's journey with "The Fifth Element" began in 1991, when the screenplay for the movie was a hefty 400 pages. As the saying goes, approximately one page of script translates to about a minute of screen time.

20Besson discovered a few skilled partners

During the production of this 1991 film, Besson encountered the French comic book artists Jean-Claude Mezieres and Jean Giraud, known as Moebius. Impressed by their work, the director enlisted them to oversee the production design. Additionally, he recruited the controversial French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to create the costumes. It seems this film was a significant project for individuals named "Jean."

A few actors and the director met

As Besson assembled his production team, he focused on casting the lead role of Korben Dallas. Initially, he approached Mel Gibson, who declined the offer. Besson then turned to Bruce Willis, who showed interest. However, Willis hesitated due to recent box office disappointments and perceived risks associated with The Fifth Element.

Production was halted.

Besson had many elements ready for his project, but lacking a film studio, he and his producers faced difficulty securing the desired $100 million budget. As a result, in 1992, production came to a halt, and the team disbanded.

20Besson's success made the movie possible.

After the project for The Fifth Element fell through, Luc Besson went on to create the movie Leon: The Professional in 1994. Despite this, he continued to work on revising the script for The Fifth Element, aiming to shorten it and reduce the budget. Columbia Pictures had previously distributed Leon in the United States, and they agreed to finance this more streamlined version of his science fiction film.

20Besson returned one of his "Leon" cast members to "The Fifth Element."

The French director had a clear choice for the villainous Zorg: Gary Oldman, the actor who portrayed the villain in Leon. Besson admired Oldman greatly, referring to him as "one of the top five actors in the world."

20Willis returned to the film.

When Besson received approval from Columbia, he opted for a lesser-known actor as Korben to reduce costs. One day, while in a producer's office, Willis called the producer. Besson asked to speak to him, mentioning his plan to hire a lesser-known actor for The Fifth Element to save money. Willis expressed interest in the script and suggested they could collaborate if he liked it. Willis did like the script, and they reached an agreement.

A thing for Milla Jovovich, Besson

When casting the role of Leeloo in "The Fifth Element," director Luc Besson auditioned hundreds of actresses before ultimately selecting Milla Jovovich. Besson was captivated by something unique about Jovovich that appealed to him. At the time of filming, Besson was married to Maiwenn Le Besco, who also had a role in the movie. However, Besson left his wife to pursue a romantic relationship with Jovovich. The two eventually married but later divorced in 1999.

20Besson created the language of Leeloo.

For the "Divine Language" spoken by Leeloo, director Luc Besson chose to invent a new fictional language. This language comprises approximately 400 words. To help Milla Jovovich, who played Leeloo, become fluent, Besson and Jovovich communicated and exchanged letters in this language for practice.

For Ruby Rhod, the director had a well-known musician in mind.

Ruby Rhod is a flamboyant character, and Luc Besson had a flamboyant personality in mind for the role. Initially, Prince was cast for the role, but due to his touring schedule, he had to drop out. Chris Tucker and Jamie Foxx were also considered, but Besson ultimately chose Tucker because of his smaller frame.

The film was not shot in the area that Besson had in mind.

Besson, a French filmmaker, originally planned to shoot The Fifth Element in France but faced challenges in making it happen. As a result, the production relocated to London, specifically at the renowned Pinewood Studios. To capture the scenes set in Egypt, they filmed in the African nation of Mauritania.

20Besson desired to make things more cheerful.

The director grew weary of conventional sci-fi movies, which often featured dull, dimly lit spaceships. Perhaps he had been influenced by films like Alien. Besson aimed for a "cheerfully crazy" aesthetic for his movie, opting to shoot most of the action scenes in daylight.

Gaultier gave his work his all.

Gaultier spared no expense when it came to his costumes, with one jacket in the movie reportedly costing $5,000 on its own. Despite the high cost, he didn't compromise on quality. Gaultier meticulously designed 900 costumes for the extras in the Fholston Paradise scenes and personally inspected them daily during filming to ensure they met his standards.

20The Diva Dance had to be completed in segments.

Soprano opera singer Inva Mula provided the singing voice for the Diva in The Fifth Element. However, she had to inform composer Eric Serra that the "Diva Dance" was impossible to sing as written. Humans can't change notes that quickly. To solve this, Mula sang each note separately, which was then digitally combined to create the song.

Two stars never came into contact.

In some movies, the protagonist and antagonist never actually meet. This was the case in "The Fifth Element," where Bruce Willis finished shooting his scenes before Gary Oldman began. As a result, Korben Dallas and Zorg never share the screen for even a minute.

For its debut, the producers went all out.

Gaumont, the renowned French production company responsible for producing the iconic film "The Fifth Element," pulled out all the stops for its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. The event was a lavish affair, featuring not just a screening of the film but also a captivating "futuristic ballet," a stunning fashion show by renowned designer Gaultier, and a spectacular fireworks display. The company spared no expense, reportedly spending between $1 million and $3 million to ensure the premiere was a truly unforgettable experience.

It was a huge hit everywhere.
The Fifth Element" premiered at the top of the American box office and went on to become a massive success globally. The film earned $263.9 million worldwide, surpassing its $90 million budget. A significant portion, 75 percent, of its earnings came from international markets. In France, the movie was a phenomenon, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1997. Remarkably, it held the title of the highest-grossing French film worldwide until 2011, when "The Intouchables" surpassed it

The performers relished it.aside from one

It's interesting to hear about the different experiences the actors had while making "The Fifth Element." Willis and Jovovich seemed to have enjoyed it, while Oldman had a different opinion. It's always fascinating to see how people's perspectives on their work can vary.