Gerard Depardieu - Gerard Depardieu Eyes Russian Movie Project

The Green Card star left his native France in December (12) in a reported bid to avoid a tax hike on wealthy residents, and was subsequently granted citizenship and a passport from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Depardieu has now announced he wants to make a film in volatile Chechnya after meeting with the province's President Ramzan Kadyrov for a banquet at the presidential residence on Sunday (24Feb13).

The predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya has been embroiled in war as militants fight to establish an Islamist state, but Depardieu is eager to show a positive depiction of the region's capital, Grozny.

The actor is quoted by Reuters as saying, "I would really like to shoot a film here and show that it's possible to do that here in Grozny, shoot a great film. I can't reveal all the details now, but we'll come back here and this is only the beginning."

The announcement comes after Depardieu registered as a resident of the Russian city of Saransk at the weekend (24Feb13).