‘Miraculous’ Producer Zag Working On Animated Motorsport Franchise ‘Carmen,’ Inspired By Former F1 Driver Carmen Jorda

Zag, the Paris-based studio behind Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, has announced development of Carmen, a new animated feature and franchise inspired by the motorsport career of former Formula 1 development driver Carmen Jorda. The project will include a theatrical feature, animated series, and full consumer-products program.

Jorda, who competed in GP3, Indy Lights, and the Le Mans Series and became only the 11th woman ever included in an F1 team’s driver lineup, recently returned to Alpine as head of its F1 Academy program. Her boundary-defying path is the basis of Carmen‘s narrative, which follows a young driver navigating a high-pressure racing universe “where fear moves faster than any car on the track.”

Producers Jeremy Zag, filmmaker Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), and Tyler Thompson (Rush, Black Swan) lead the creative team, with former HBO Max/Netflix executive Andrea Puig serving as executive producer.

“At Zag, we’ve always believed in creating heroes who inspire kids to believe in themselves,” said Zag in a release. “When I met Carmen, her journey and perseverance impressed and inspired me. I’m excited to let her personal story guide us as we imagine a new hero for tomorrow.”

Jorda added: “Racing has shaped my life, and partnering with Zag means turning my passion into a story that can inspire millions of young girls around the world. I want them to know they can dream big, fight hard, and take their place on the track — just like I did.”

According to Gracey: “Carmen’s journey is one of resilience and unwavering self-belief, even in the face of daunting limitations. Her fearlessness and ambition are the qualities of true heroes, and it’s a privilege to let her guide our narrative — and hopefully inspire a new generation.”

No potential release date for any of the Carmen projects has been announced, nor has any distributor for the various formats, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated.