Gérard Darmon will not be returning to the stage at the Théâtre des Nouveautés this fall. According to information from Le ParisienThe owners of the venue and the producer have decided to cancel the revival of the play. A house of cards, in which the 78-year-old actor was to share the screen with Isabelle Gélinas and Stéphan Wojtowicz.
A recovery halted before the start of the new school year
The show was scheduled to return to Paris in September, following an initial run in the fall of 2025 at the same theater. The play, written by Hadrien Raccah and directed by Serge Postigo, featured the same three actors. This new Parisian run was intended to build on the success of the previous season. However, it will not take place. The decision did not come directly from Gérard Darmon, but from the theater and production companies, who preferred to cancel before the performances began.
Producers fear disruptions
The teams at Pascal Legros Organisation are determined to avoid a repeat of the crisis they experienced a few months earlier with Patrick Bruel. The company owns the Théâtre des Nouveautés, where Gérard Darmon was scheduled to perform, as well as the Théâtre Édouard-VII, where Patrick Bruel was performing in the spring. A performance of Patrick Bruel's play was disrupted by feminist activists on May 27th. The remaining Paris dates were subsequently canceled. The singer, facing several rape and sexual assault charges, was formally charged in June and denies the accusations against him. The production of A house of cards They therefore chose not to wait for any potential protests or interruptions. For the show's organizers, keeping Gérard Darmon on the bill risked disrupting the play, or even interrupting it after its opening.
Nine women accuse Gérard Darmon
Gérard Darmon has been accused since November 2024 by nine women who worked with him on various film sets. They accuse him of sexist insults and humiliation, unwanted sexual advances, and non-consensual physical contact. The testimonies concern alleged incidents that occurred in a professional setting. Several women held positions as technicians, makeup artists, wardrobe assistants, or assistants. One of them stated that she was not adequately protected by her production company. Gérard Darmon has always denied the allegations against him. These accounts remain accusations and do not constitute a legal conviction.
A first withdrawal in the spring
This cancellation in Paris comes two months after another cancellation. Gérard Darmon was to preside over the jury of the La Ciotat First Film Festival in June 2026. Faced with the backlash his nomination provoked, the actor ultimately withdrew from the role. The organizers explained at the time that this decision had been made "in order to preserve the peaceful atmosphere of the event"The chairmanship of the jury was then entrusted to another individual.
The future of the play remains uncertain
The September revival at the Théâtre des Nouveautés has now been cancelled. No information has yet been released regarding a possible replacement for Gérard Darmon, a new cast, or a postponement of the show. A tour of A house of cards It had also been announced for early 2027. Whether it would be maintained, adapted, or cancelled has not been specified. For Gérard Darmon, this decision marks yet another professional withdrawal after his departure from the La Ciotat Festival.
