Marina Abramović has announced production dates for her upcoming performance piece "Seven Deaths," a seven-part film incorporating death scenes from influential operas such as "Madam Butterfly" and "Carmen." The 68-year-old artist has invited controversial filmmaker Roman Polanski, along with directors Alejandro González Iñárritu, Marco Brambilla, Giada Colagrande, Yorgos Lanthimos, and screenwriter Petter Skavlan, to contribute segments. Abramović will portray singer Maria Callas, whom she describes as a muse, and plans to produce a making-of documentary and a biography on Callas's life. Lars von Trier was invited but declined due to scheduling conflicts.
The collaboration with Polanski, who remains a divisive figure in the film industry, is likely to spark debate within the art world about ethics and artistic partnerships. The project underscores Abramović's enduring fascination with mortality and romantic tragedy, themes central to her career. By merging opera, film, and performance, "Seven Deaths" continues her tradition of pushing boundaries and engaging with high-profile, sometimes controversial, collaborators.