French Actor Mathieu Amalric to Star in Roman Polanski's Venus in Fur Film

Mathieu Amalric has begun filming director Roman Polanki's previously announced French-language film adaptation of Venus in Fur, according to Deadline. Louis Garrel was originally reported to be taking on the role of demanding playwright and director Thomas in the film. Amalric is reteaming with Polanski’s wife Emmanuelle Seigner for the film, his co-star in 2007's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Based on the novella by Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (whose name inspired the term sado-masochism), David Ives’ Tony-nominated erotic comedy centers on a sexually charged encounter in a rehearsal studio between an aspiring actress and the writer/director of a new play. Nina Arianda won the 2012 Best Actress Tony for her performance as the mysterious actress, a role she created off-Broadway in 2010 and reprised on Broadway. The writer/director was played off-Broadway by Wes Bentley and on Broadway by Hugh Dancy.

Amalric also starred as the villainous Dominic Greene in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace. His other film credits include Munich, A Christmas Tale and Marie Antoinette.