French actor and filmmaker Samuel Theis, renowned for his role in the critically acclaimed Anatomy of a Fall, is facing accusations of rape.
Variety reported that Theis was ousted from his directorial project, Je Le Jure, following allegations by a crew member who claimed to have been sexually assaulted. According to a report in the French newspaper Liberation, the alleged incident occurred in July after a party at an apartment.
The unidentified crew member asserted staying at the apartment, being intoxicated, and experiencing rape the next morning. Theis has refuted the claim, asserting that the encounter was consensual.
Upon learning of the incident, the film’s producer, Caroline Bonmarchand, engaged a third party to conduct a formal investigation. Meanwhile, Theis was removed from the set but continued directing remotely.
As per Screen Daily, a Telerama report stated that the crew member left the production and filed an official complaint with authorities. Theis’s lawyer stated that her client has not been approached or charged by the police.
Je Le Jure, Theis’s third directorial endeavor, is a drama featuring Marina Foïs and Louise Bourgoin, revolving around an alcoholic summoned for jury duty.
Anatomy of a Fall, a courtroom drama starring Theis, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and recently secured two major Golden Globes for best screenplay and best non-English language motion picture. Notably, writer-director Justine Triet did not mention Theis in her two acceptance speeches over the weekend.