Alliance Atlantis’ fantasy/history The Last Legion leads new film releases for the generally calm week of Aug. 17-23, which also includes the panned thriller The Invasion, the musical biopic El Cantante and the comedy Superbad.

Legion, distributed by The Weinstein Company in the U.S., opens wide on 78 screens in English Canada in all major markets, while Vivafilm will release 29 copies in French.

Directed by Doug Lefler (Xena: Warrior Princess), Legion follows the adventures of the last emperor of the Roman Empire, and stars Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley.

Alliance sister Odeon Films will open El Cantante, about the life of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, on three screens, two in Toronto at the Varsity, and one in Vancouver. Odeon will also open the acclaimed comic drama Rocket Science, from U.S. distributor Picturehouse, on one screen each in Toronto and Vancouver. A spokesperson says there are no plans to expand as of yet.

Christal Films, meanwhile, is cautiously releasing France’s L’Homme de sa vie (Man of My Life) on four screens in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Gatineau.

Other U.S. releases opening wide on Friday include the Nicole Kidman-starrer The Invasion, a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers from Warner Bros., and the Columbia Pictures comedy Superbad, handled here by Sony Pictures.

Coming up, Warner Independent Pictures will release the environmentally themed documentary The 11th Hour, cowritten and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, in Toronto next week. The film will expand to cities including Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg on Aug. 31.