The “French Prosecutor’s Office” demands that a major star be tried for the rape of a young actress

Heba Press/. Agencies

French actor Gérard Depardieu is set to face trial in a criminal court for rape and assault of a young actress in 2018, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.

Depardieu, one of France’s most prominent cinema stars, has denied committing any crime. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters on Thursday.

Actress Charlotte Arnold, then 22, filed the first complaint in 2018, accusing Depardieu of raping her at his Paris home on two occasions. A new complaint was filed in 2020 after the first trial was dropped.

The prosecution said it had requested a trial. It is now up to the investigating judge to decide on the matter.

Depardieu, 75, has faced several allegations of sexual assault in recent years, tarnishing his legacy and exposing broader divisions over sexual behavior in France. He consistently denies any wrongdoing.

He is due to stand trial in October on charges that he sexually assaulted two women during the filming of a movie in 2021. He has also denied those accusations.