French Film Legend Gerard Depardieu Faces Criminal Trial Over Rape and Sexual Assault Allegations

French actor Gerard Depardieu, 75, is set to face a criminal trial over allegations he raped and sexually assaulted a fellow actor, Paris prosecutors announced on Thursday.

Depardieu was charged in December 2020 with allegedly raping Charlotte Arnould, 28, at his Paris home on two occasions in August 2018. The prosecutors’ formal call for a trial comes after an investigation to determine whether the case warranted a trial.

It will now be up to an investigating magistrate to decide whether the hearing goes ahead. Arnould’s lawyer, Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, hailed the move as “a huge step forward filled with hope” for her client. Durrieu-Diebolt said the investigation had gathered evidence corroborating Arnould’s allegations.

Depardieu has denied the allegations, telling conservative daily Le Figaro last October, “Never, but never, have I abused a woman.” The actor has faced multiple rape and sexual assault allegations in recent years, drawing comment from figures including French President Emmanuel Macron.

The 28-year-old actor’s case was initially dropped by prosecutors in 2019 due to insufficient evidence. However, Arnould successfully pressed for the case to be reopened in 2020.

Depardieu is also set to face trial in October for alleged sexual assaults against two different women during a film shoot in 2021.

The French actor has been a prominent figure in the film industry for decades, with a career spanning over 40 years. However, his reputation has been tarnished by the recent allegations against him.