France's animation sector is undergoing a severe crisis with numerous business failures, and theater attendance in the country is suffering in early 2025 due to the lack of blockbuster films.

A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of France’s most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures.

Actor Gerard Depardieu was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021, receiving an 18-month suspended sentence. The case highlights shifting attitudes towards sexual assault in France.

Films shot in France have embraced VFX — both artistically and industrially — and the sector has reached a new level of maturity.

French cinema icon Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021.

French-Lebanese logistics magnate Rodolphe Saadé, who is buying the stake, lauds the producer and cinema operator as "a flagship brand for film lovers both in France and worldwide."