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.

French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexual assault. One of the highest-profile and most discussed #MeToo cases in France, a court in Paris found Depardieu, 76, guilty of sexual assault against two different women on a film set in 2021.

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-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."