Renowned ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied will make his feature directorial debut with a musical adaptation of “Carmen,” TheWrap has learned.
Natalie Portman’s husband will also choreograph the effort, based on Georges Bizet’s tragic opera.
Millepied has an impressive team behind him for his first outing: “Moonlight” composer and Academy Award nominee Nicholas Britell is on board to score the project. Cinematographer Darius Khondji (“Midnight in Paris”) will serve as DP.
“I’m beyond grateful to be supported by the film community in my directing debut. The incorporation of music and dance in film is a corner stone of my creativity,” Millepied said in a statement.
Oscar nominee Helen Estabrook (“Whiplash) and Dimitri Rassam (“The Little Prince”) will produce. Filming is set for January 2018.
In addition to his show business work, Millepied is the artistic director and founder of L.A. Dance Project along with founding producer Charles Fabius.