Polanski to direct Venus in Fur — in French

When Venus in Fur was nominated for a Tony Award and won a slew of NY awards including a Tony for its star Nina Arianda, I filed it away with dozens of of other great stage productions that I figured I’d never have a chance to see. A stylized two-person black comedy involving the erotic head games between a playwright and an actress during an audition? Not something Hollywood would likely touch. Thanks to Roman Polanski, we don’t have to rely on Hollywood. He’s adapting the play with its original author David Ives and it will be filmed in French, starring Emmanuelle Seigner and Louis Garrel. Polanski who directed Seigner in Frantic and Bitter Moon, says the project will fulfill a wish he’s had for years.

“I’ve been looking for a chance to make a film in French with Emmanuelle for a long time. Reading ‘Venus in Fur’ I realized the moment had arrived. I got so fired up to put this brilliant black comedy on film that I decided to fit it in before ‘D.,’ whose screenplay and pre-production will demand a few more months. Louis Garrel and Emmanuelle Seigner will make for a stunning duo.” (Coming Soon)