Actress Adele Haenal has departed from French sci-fi film L'Empire (The Empire), and the film industry entirely, claiming it to be racist and sexist.

Initially she had thought the film to be a fun Star Wars type affair but reports that the script is "full of jokes about cancel culture and sexual violence".

She also objects to the all-white cast which she regards as constituting a racist narrative.

This is the synopsis for the modestly budgeted (6.1 million euro / 9.1 million AUD) film:

Under the exterior of the common life of the inhabitants of a fishing village on the Opal Coast, the parallel and epic life of knights of interplanetary empires emerges. Prey to the bloody fights of these clans at the announcement of the birth of the Margat, resurgent Prince, mauve and filthy, Beast of the End of Times, located here on the Coast and child of a young couple, as usual of their condition in a residential area.

From their sales people:

Epic stories don’t always unfold in epic locations… let’s say that it’s a bit as if Star Wars ended up in the back of your garden.

Lili-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp, stars.

Without seeing the script or the film it's obviously impossible to judge her claims but it in a late April article it was noted that another actress, Virginie Efira, was also believed to be attached to the film but not in its final cast.

Adele may not have been alone it her view of the script.

On the other hand she cites the case of French National Film Board president Dominique Boutonnat as evidence of problems within the industry.

He was accused of sexual assault and attempted rape by his then 22 year old godson.

Calls were made for his dismissal but French Culture Minister Roselyn Bachelot advised:

The ruling has not been delivered and the presumption of innocence of Dominique Boutonnat must be respected.

The trial of public opinion can’t replace the judicial trial.

This flies in the face of present day popular opinion, but we concur.

Instant loss or change of position may be appropriate in cases where the alleged victim is a minor and the accused's position gives them easy access to vulnerable individuals.

But the accuser in this case was an adult and the accused a film board president.

Summary termination is unjust.

Following an investigation the case is heading to a French criminal court.

If this film does question or mock cancel culture, it wouldn't be the first piece of entertainment to do so.

We hadn't been aware of James Gunn's demise and later recovery from cancel culture before watching HBO's Peacemaker but the message behind one of the early scenes is very obvious.

L'Empire is filming now and doesn't have a release date yet.

[ Main Image: Adele Haenel in The Unknown Girl. Credit: Cineart via IMDb.com. ]

References

Goodfellow, Melanie (April 28, 2022). Lily-Rose Depp, Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin; Memento International boards sales (exclusive). Screen Daily.

IMDb.com. L'Empire. (viewed May 16, 2022)

Keslassy, Elsa (April 26, 2022). France’s CNC President Dominique Boutonnat Could Face Criminal Court for Alleged Sexual Assault. Variety.

Keslassy, Elsa (February 18, 2021). France’s National Film Board President to Remain in Post During Police Investigation (EXCLUSIVE). Variety.

Raup, Jordan (May 15, 2022). Adèle Haenel Steps Away From the Film Industry: It’s “Reactionary, Racist, and Patriarchal”. The Film Stage.

Raup, Jordan (January 25, 2022). Bruno Dumont Starts Shooting Sci-Fi Feature The Empire with Virginie Efira, Lily-Rose Depp & Adèle Haenel. The Film Stage.

White, Abbey (July 14, 2021). James Gunn Reveals Kevin Feige Was “in Shock” When Delivering News of Marvel Firing. The Hollywood Reporter.

Wikipedia. Lily-Rose Depp. (viewed May 16, 2022)