Roman Polanski to Direct Film Adaptation of Broadway Hit 'Venus in Fur'

Roman Polanski has signed to direct a big-screen adaptation of David Ives’ Broadway and off-Broadway smash Venus in Fur.

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The Oscar-winning helmer will begin developing the erotic black comedy while waiting for a draft of D., based on France's notorious Dreyfus affair, which Polanski will direct as well.

Venus in Fur will be a French-language project and will star Polanski's wife Emmanuelle Seigner and Louis Garrel.

The stage version of Venus in Fur garnered a Tony nomination for best play, and Nina Arianda nabbed the best actress trophy.

“I’ve been looking for a chance to make a film in French with Emmanuelle for a long time,” said Polanski, who directed Seigner in Frantic (1988) and Bitter Moon (1992). “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 preproduction will demand a few more months.”

Polanski and Ives are adapting the film, which will be produced by Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde, longtime associates of Polanski. It will be independently financed and will begin filming in Paris in November.

The project marks the second consecutive Broadway hit to be made into a film by Polanski, whose last feature, Carnage, was adapted from Yasmina Reza's play, God of Carnage.

ICM, which reps Polanski, will handle North American rights. Lionsgate/Summit International will rep the film’s international sales.