Gérard Depardieu's trial on charges of sexual assault has been postponed until March because the French actor is in poor health, reports BBC News.
Depardieu, 75, was absent when the trial opened earlier on Monday, with his lawyer asking for a delay to proceedings, citing his client's health issues.
Depardieu is accused of attacking two women while shooting the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), in the highest profile #MeToo case to hit France.
Prosecutors say he made explicit sexual remarks to, and then aggressively "groped", two members of the production team. If convicted, he could face five years in jail.
He denies the charges, saying that he has never "abused a woman".
Proceedings opened at a criminal court in the French capital at about 13:30 local time. Depardieu's lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told French media that the actor had been "deeply affected" by illness and was advised by his doctors not to attend the trial.
Assous added that his client had asked for the delay as he "wishes to come, wants to express himself" before the court, but proceedings continued in his absence.
The court's president then decided to postpone the trial to 24-25 March, ordering a medical assessment of the actor.