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.

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.

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-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."

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