The Trailer for 'Carmen' Turns the Classic Opera Into a Paul Mescal-Starring (and Aussie-Shot) Musical Drama

It's only been three short years since the world first discovered Paul Mescal courtesy of early-pandemic obsession Normal People, and what a three years they've been. Focusing solely on the Irish actor's on-screen work and related achievements, he's also popped up in The Lost Daughter, been nominated for an Oscar for Aftersun and famously spent time making a movie in Australia — and that flick, Carmen, has just dropped its first trailer.

Remember all those Mescal sightings Down Under in early 2021? The whole the country does, and this film is why they happened. The movie turns the classic opera of the same name into a screen musical, and features the internet's boyfriend as Aidan, a marine with PTSD, opposite In the Heights and Scream star Melissa Barrera in the titular role.

This clearly isn't a standard adaptation of the opera by Georges Bizet that first hit stages back in 1875, as based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée that's also called Carmen. Here, in what's been dubbed "a gritty modern-day tale", Carmen flees her home in the Mexican desert after her mother is murdered, then makes an illegal border crossing into America. Once in the US, she's troubled by more killings courtesy of a ruthless border guard — which doesn't go down well with his patrol partner, the aforementioned Aiden. So starts Carmen and Aiden's journey together, also escaping to look for her mother's best friend (iconic Spanish actor Rossy De Palma, Parallel Mothers).

This take on Carmen also features standoffs, a nightclub as a sanctuary, a police hunt and finding solace in romance, with Benjamin Millepied making his directorial debut behind the lens. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, he was behind the ballet scenes in Black Swan — and also popped up on-screen as David.

Millepied's first stint as a helmer will hit US cinemas in April, with a release date in Australia and New Zealand yet to be revealed. Seeing it turn up on the midyear film festival circuit, hitting the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival, wouldn't be surprising.

Adding to the project's big names is Nicholas Britell, who is responsible for Carmen's original score and songs, after also composing Succession's earworm of a theme.

Check out the trailer for Carmen below:

Carmen doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.