"I Came with Crutches": Five Years Ago, the Filming of Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire Was Not Easy for This Legend of French Cinema

At 91 years old, Pierre Richard continues to surprise. However, during the filming of "Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire," the actor had to cope with a painful arthritis flare-up, even going so far as to shoot with crutches.

At 91 years old, Pierre Richard clearly has no intention of slowing down. With over a hundred films and a César award to his name, the comedian continues his career with the same passion. He made his return to the big screen on September 17, 2025, with "The Man Who Saw the Bear Who Saw the Man," a feature film he directed himself, nearly three decades after his previous directorial effort.

Twenty-eight years after "Straight into the Wall," Pierre Richard has returned to the director's chair. His recent comedy, "The Man Who Saw the Bear Who Saw the Man," tells the story of Grégoire and Michel, two men from different generations, brought together by their friendship, love of nature, and attachment to a bear that escaped from a circus.

A Shoot Marked by Intense Pain

Before this return to directing, audiences saw Pierre Richard in "Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire," released in 2023 and directed by Guillaume Canet. The actor portrayed the famous druid Panoramix.

But behind the cameras, the shoot proved particularly grueling. In 2021, while filming was underway, the comedian suffered from a severe arthritis flare-up that complicated every movement.

In an interview with the media outlet Le Matin, relayed by Télé Loisirs, he recounted the difficulties he faced: "I didn’t shoot for long because at that time [in 2021], I was still in a lot of pain in my left leg. I had a huge arthritis flare-up. I came to the shoot with crutches, and when they said: Action!, they took them away to give me a big wooden stick."

Very Difficult Working Conditions

Despite the pain, Pierre Richard was determined to honor his commitment. Walking had become a real challenge, while sitting was equally painful, especially during long makeup sessions.

The actor confided: "I couldn’t move 2 meters because I was in so much pain. Surprisingly, it doesn’t show. The paradox was that I couldn’t walk, but I couldn’t stand being seated. Just imagine my mood after 3 hours in makeup."

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A Panoramix Praised by Audiences

While "Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Empire" sparked numerous debates upon its release, one thing was widely agreed upon: Pierre Richard's portrayal of Panoramix. The comedian slipped effortlessly into the role of the druid responsible for preparing the famous magic potion, succeeding Claude Piéplu, Claude Rich, and Jean-Pierre Cassel.

The film is now available on TF1+ and Molotov TV, as well as on VOD. Head to VOD to discover "The Man Who Saw the Bear Who Saw the Man."