Besson slams paparazzi pursuit of Scarlett

But denied reports that he considered leaving the island early to underscore his disgust over their actions.

Besson spent 11 days in Taipei filming Lucy with Johansson, who plays a drug mule whose contact with a "super-serum" endows her with superhuman abilities.

Meeting reporters in Taipei a day after he finished shooting the Taiwan part of the film, Besson blasted the paparazzi for dogging the production.

He said it was his right as a director to keep details, such as Johansson's hair style and her wardrobe out of the public eye until Lucy is released.

"We don't want pictures with new dresses of Scarlett," he said. "Sometimes I lost a bit of my concentration because I'm bothered by that."

Shooting at night was a nightmare because of constant paparazzi intrusions, he said.

CONDEMNATION

Besson singled out two unnamed agencies from Hong Kong for special condemnation, but labelled as incorrect news reports that he wanted to leave Taiwan early to register his disapproval of their actions.

Besson also said it was incorrect to say that drug smuggling was the focus of the film, saying it comprised only a very small part.

"The film is about pure intelligence," he said, declining to elaborate. We're basically using 10pc of our brain. What happens when we use more?"

hnews@herald.ie