French ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Movie Aims to Capture the ‘Twilight’ Audience

The classic Gaston Leroux novel The Phantom of the Opera has been adapted countless times over the years – even Robert Englund played the Phantom back in the 1980s! – and it seems yet another adaptation is on the way. This one hails out of France, Deadline reports.

Alexandre Castagnetti (Stand by Love, Tamara, A New Girl In Paris) is directing the French-language version of The Phantom of the Opera, which is said to be “aimed at a young adult audience and taking its cue from the Twilight franchise.”

Deva Cassel (The Leopard), Julien De Saint Jean (The Count Of Monte Cristo) and Romain Duris (Heartbreaker) are attached to star in the $20 million French production.

Deadline notes in today’s report, “Filming will begin this summer at the world famous Palais Garnier opera house, or Opéra Garnier, in Paris, against the backdrop of its theatre, backstage areas, domed roof and subterranean vaulted cistern, sometimes referred to as its lake.”

Here’s the official synopsis for the new Phantom of the Opera movie, being described as “a modern re-reading” of the tale that will feature “fantasy, period and thriller elements.”

“Cassel will star as 18 year old Anastasia, who is newly-arrived in Paris and full of hopes and dreams as she takes up a position as a ballet dancer at the opera house.

“Ambitious artistic director, James Figueras (Duris), is reviving Orpheus, the mythic opera by Ernest Dupré, inspired by the Greek mythological figure of Orpheus and his journey into the underworld in search of his dead wife Euridice.

“One night, Anastasia meets the opera house’s mythical phantom (Saint Jean) and they embark on an impossible love story. Meanwhile the prima ballerina, meant for the role of Euridice, barely escapes death and Anastasia lands the star role.”