Benjamin Millepied to make feature directorial debut with Carmen adaptation

Natalie Portman’s ballet dancer husband Benjamin Millepied will make his directorial debut on an adaptation of Carmen.
The film will be a contemporary take on French composer Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera, produced by Dimitri Rassam and Helen Estabrook.
Benjamin will choreograph and compose the original score, alongside Oscar-nominated Nicholas Britell and Midnight to Paris cinematographer Darius Khondji.
Carmen centres on a woman travelling from Mexico to Los Angeles in search of freedom, according to Variety.com.
“I’m beyond grateful to be supported by the film community in my directing debut,” Millepied says. “The incorporation of music and dance in film is a cornerstone of my creativity and having such an experienced and talented team by my side gives me confidence that we will beautifully capture the story told in Carmen.”
He will begin shooting the project next year (18) in Los Angeles. A cast has yet to be announced.
“Benjamin’s vision of Carmen is intense and compelling, as is illustrated by the exceptional quality of the creative team he has assembled to accompany him on his directorial debut,” Rassam adds. “His Carmen embraces the visceral strength of the original work of Bizet, one of the most successful operas still today, whilst offering a powerful, contemporary and original cinematographic journey.”
Benjamin made his feature film debut as an actor and choreographer on Black Swan, the 2010 film which earned his now-wife Natalie an Oscar. They couple met on the set of the film and wed in 2012.
This isn’t the first adaptation of the opera – in 2001, Beyonce and actor Mekhi Phifer starred in Carmen: A Hip Hopera, while Paz Vega and Leonardo Sbaraglia appeared in 2003’s Carmen, and Antonio Gades and Laura del Sol also starred in 1983’s Carmen.