Mel Gibson's new historical epic Apocalypto and the thirdpart in the Asterix franchise, Asterix At The Olympic Games, are among fivepotential blockbusters acquired by German distributor Constantin Film on theeve of this year's Berlinale.

Constantin, which previously handled Gibson's The Passion Of TheChrist in Germany two years ago, plans to release Apocalypto on August 28,2006, while Frederic Forestier's Euros 70m-plus live-action film based on theGoscinny and Uderzo comics is slated to open at Christmas 2007. Billed as thesecond most expensive French film of all time, Asterix At The Olympic Games is aco-production between Pathe, Petite Reine and Constantin Film and features risingstar Clovis Cornillac playing Asterix for the first time and Gerard Depardieureprising his portrayal of Obelix. Veteran star Alain Delon has been cast asJulius Caesar and model Gisela Buendchen as the Greek princess Irina.

Constantin has also acquired the German rights to Tony Gilroy's actionthriller Michael Clayton, produced by Sydney Pollack and Steven Soderbergh andwith a cast headed by George Clooney, for release in early 2007; TakashiShimizu's The Grudge 2, the sequel to his highly successful 2004 film,starring Amber Tably and Sarah Michelle Gellar; and Gabor Csupo's familyfantasy film Bridge To Terabithia, which is currently beingshot in New Zealand with Annasophia Robb, Josh Hutcherson and Zooey Deschanel.