MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti) – French film star Gerard Depardieu, who became a Russian citizen in early January, said on Friday that he wanted to launch a series of TV programs based on Russian literature.

“I’ve discussed with [Russian Culture Minister Vladimir] Medinsky the possibility of joint work in Russia. We would like to make some TV series based on Russian literature and involving actors from different countries, and to show the series across the globe,” Depardieu told reporters at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

The legendary French actor was given a Russian passport at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 6.

“I hope to learn Russian to be able to communicate with people,” he said, adding that he would not like to live in Moscow.

“Moscow is fussy and has many traffic jams,” Depardieu said.

Depardieu renounced his French citizenship ahead of the government’s planned implementation of a 75 percent tax rate for annual earnings above $1.3 million. By comparison, Russia has a fixed 13 percent income tax.

France’s highest court later rejected the controversial government proposal to impose a “super-tax” on the wealthy, deeming it discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.