French actor Samuel Theis, recognized for his role as Sandra Hüller’s on-screen husband in the Golden Globe-winning film “Anatomy of a Fall,” has been embroiled in controversy after being accused of rape by a crew member during the filming of his third directorial venture, “Je te jure.” Variety has confirmed his removal from the physical set of the production following these allegations, with Theis subsequently directing the film remotely.
Reports state that the alleged incident occurred midway through the shoot, following a gathering at an apartment involving the cast and crew on July 1. The crew member, reportedly in an inebriated state, spent the night at the apartment where the party was held and subsequently alleged that Theis raped them during the early morning hours. In defense, Theis contends that the encounter was consensual, as per accounts from Liberation, a French newspaper.
In response to the accusation, producer Caroline Bonmarchand took proactive measures by initiating an internal investigation through an independent third-party organization, upon learning of the incident. During the ongoing probe, Bonmarchand strategized a solution that involved physically removing Theis from the set while enabling him to direct the film remotely. According to Bonmarchand, Theis would organize the shoot in the morning and then isolate himself in another room, remaining accessible to actors and communicating with the crew through monitors.
Following the protocol in place, the production continued, with additional support offered to crew members, including access to a psychologist for those affected. Despite the allegations, the film’s shoot was completed later in July.
Reports from Telerama magazine indicate that the crew member has lodged a police complaint against Theis. However, Marie Dosé, Theis’ attorney, stated that she has not been informed about any official complaint or ongoing investigation at this time. Dosé highlighted an independent investigation commissioned by the production, which reportedly concluded that there were no substantial elements to classify the incident as a sexual assault. She referenced a witness account included in the report, describing the situation between Theis and the accuser as a “tender moment.”
“Je te jure” features a mix of non-professional actors and prominent French stars such as Marina Foïs and Louise Bourgoin. Caroline Bonmarchand, a well-known producer in France, leads Avenue B Productions, recognized for recent successes like Sebastien Marnier’s “The Origin of Evil.”
