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Deva Cassel and Julien De Saint Jean together in a film inspired by Twilight
French director Alexandre Castagnetti is drawing his inspiration from the Twilight saga for his upcoming film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s cult novel The Phantom of the Opera. Young actors Deva Cassel and Julien De Saint Jean will portray the protagonists of the story. Here is everything we already know about this exciting project, scheduled for theatrical release on September 23rd, 2026.
Published on 26 February 2026. Updated on 11 May 2026.
Deva Cassel and Julien De Saint Jean, stars of The Phantom of the Opera
Following the tremendous reception of the hit French blockbusters The Three Musketeers (2023) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2024), another literary classic is about to see the light of day on the silver screen.
Already the topic of many film adaptations, Gaston Leroux’s 1910 masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera will be given a new lease of life. The project will star actors Romain Duris, Laïka Blanc-Francard (Cassandre), and Axel Auriant (Skam France). Étoile dancer Guillaume Diop will also join the cast. As for the two leading roles, they will be played by Julien De Saint Jean and Deva Cassel, the daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.
According to early reports by the American media Deadline, this new adaptation will take a relatively romantic turn, inspired by the Twilight saga. Brian De Palma’s film Phantom of the Paradise, as well as Hayao Miyazaki‘s and Guillermo del Toro‘s unvierses, are cited as main influences.
A very physical role for the actress
Co-written by Camille Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel, All To Play For), the screenplay follows Anastasia (Deva Cassel), an 18-year-old ballet dancer who has just arrived in Paris to join the prestigious ballet of the Opéra Garnier, where she rehearses a cursed opera. Her destiny shifts when she crosses paths with a mysterious pianist, played by Julien De Saint Jean. A passionate and doomed romance unfolds, while strange events start occuring.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Deva Cassel explained that she trained five times a week to play her role. “It’s my first role in France. This project is much bigger than me, like all the ones that will follow. So, of course, I wanted to do well,” the actress shared.
Romain Duris as a stage director at the Paris Opéra Garnier
Romain Duris will embody a stage director reviving Ernest Dupré’s mythic opera Orpheus. The story will be set in present-day Paris. In addition to bringing together a prestigious cast, the feature film marks Deva Cassel’s return to the big screen after her performance in the Italian drama La Bella Estate (2024) by Laura Luchetti, followed by the series The Leopard, available on Netflix since March 2025. With a budget of around €20 million, the film is scheduled for theatrical release on September 23rd, 2026.
The Phantom of the Opera (2026) by Alexandre Castagnetti, coming out in theaters on September 23rd, 2026.
