Wissenswertes

In 1977, Luc Besson was rejected by La Fémis, the national film school of France. Besson later told in interviews, that he was 18 years old, when he applied, and in a preliminary interview an administrator asked him which directors he most admired. Besson named Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Milos Forman, before the interviewer cut him off, saying: "That's enough. I don't think you belong here".

Often casts Gary Oldman (Leon, Das fünfte Element (1997)) and they are very close friends. He produced Gary's movie Nil by Mouth (1997).

Refuses to do interviews or audio commentaries for DVD releases. This is because he believes that they ruin the impact of the film.

Jean-Pierre Melville had a heavy influence on him. He made Léon: Der Profi (1994) after seeing Melville's masterpiece Der eiskalte Engel (1967).

Grew up in Greece, Bulgaria, and former Yugoslavia, where his parents were diving instructors for Club Med.

Lived in Bulgaria, at the Black Sea coast resort, where he spent 5 months with his parents who used to work in a sport center there, diving and exploring coastal caves. He was 9 years old then. Now as an adult he is afraid to visit that coast again not ruin his beautiful childhood memories.

Wanted to become a marine biologist as a child, but an accident at the age of 17 prevented him from being in water.

Placed under investigation on a charge of involuntary manslaughter 4 June 2002 by Paris prosecutor during inquiry into death of a cameraman hit by a car during 1999 filming of chase scene in Taxi Taxi (2000), which Besson produced.

Two of his films have opened the Cannes International Film Festival: Im Rausch Der Tiefe (1988) and Das fünfte Element (1997).

President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival in 2000.

Has five children with three different women.

Has written four 'Arthur' children's books, including "Arthur and the Minimoys". The series has sold more than 1 million copies in more than 30 countries. Besson later adapted the book series into films.

He always said, that he will retire as a director after he made 10 movies. This would make Arthur und die Minimoys (2006) his last one.

Has his look-alike puppet in the French show Les Guignols de l'info (1988) (but it is rarely used).

Father, with Virginie Besson-Silla, of two daughters, Thalia Besson (b. 1 August 2001), Satine Besson (b. May 2003) and one son, Mao Besson (b. 16 September 2005).

Is being declared the John Hughes of action movies due to him writing and producing films more than directing.

President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival in 2010.

Has a daughter with ex-wife Anne Parillaud, Juliette Besson (born 1987).

Dated Maïwenn. She gave birth to their daughter, Shanna Besson, in 1993.

He has openly stated he is not a fan of video games or the superhero genre.