Gérard Depardieu, accused of rape and sexual assault, continues his acting career abroad: the 75-year-old actor appears in the cast of “Ahmed Bey”, an Algerian historical film released at the end of March.
We did not expect this. Implicated in several cases of sexual assault and now largely sidelined from French cinema, Gérard Depardieu nonetheless continues his career abroad.
Gérard Depardieu in a new film
The 75-year-old actor, whose appeal trial is scheduled from November 16 to 20, 2026, is part of an Algerian production, according to the media TSA Algeria. Titled “Ahmed Bey”, this historical drama released on March 27, 2026 in Algeria stars Mohamed Tahar Zaoui in the lead role. Gérard Depardieu plays Dey Hussein, the last dey of Algiers between 1818 and 1830.
The film, with a runtime of 1h24, traces the destiny of Ahmed Bey, an emblematic figure from Constantine known for his resistance to the French conquest, as highlighted by the Algerian Cinema Development Center.
A trial scheduled for November
Filmed in 2018 in various natural sites and museums, the film aims to showcase a major chapter of Algerian history. But the initial critical feedback remains mixed, according to “the voiceless radio”: the script is deemed weak, pace uneven, dialogues artificial. The participation of the French actor, already controversial, may not be enough to elevate the overall quality, according to several local media.
Gérard Depardieu will be on trial in appeal from November 16 to 20 for sexually assaulting two women on the set of the film “Les Volets verts” in 2021. He was previously sentenced to 18 months of suspended prison in the first instance. The actor is also set to be judged in Paris for rape and sexual assault on actress Charlotte Arnould, following a referral decision made by a judge in early September 2025. The allegations date back to August 2018 and allegedly took place at the actor’s residence.
