The upcoming Australian fantasy film Fing! has undergone major changes to its cast and marketing strategy following the public release of sexual harassment allegations against its co-writer, David Walliams. Transmission Films, the distributor for the Australian market, confirmed on November 11 that Walliams will no longer appear in the movie or participate in its publicity run ahead of the scheduled January 14 cinema debut.
In a formal statement, Transmission Films noted that the campaign would now focus exclusively on the Australian production team, the director, and the lead cast. The producers have advised that Walliams’ cameo appearance has been cut from the final cut of the film. This decision follows a joint investigation by the Guardian UK and ITV News, which detailed allegations that Walliams groomed fans he met when they were as young as 15, as well as claims of workplace harassment spanning several years. Walliams has denied the allegations.
The 55-year-old comedian and writer, who holds an Order of the British Empire (OBE), is one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent figures in entertainment. Earlier this year, his legal team took the matter to the high court in an effort to prevent the publication of the allegations, but the case was ultimately dismissed. The film itself is based on Walliams’ 2019 book and was produced by his production company, King Bert. It stars Taika Waititi, Mia Wasikowska, Iona Bell, and Blake Harrison, with direction from Australian filmmaker Jeffrey Walker. Walliams co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Cecil.
Changes to the distribution plan have also been announced for other major markets. Stan, the streaming service that was originally set to host the film after its theatrical release, confirmed it would no longer stream the movie. A spokesperson for Stan said, “In light of the recent and serious allegations against David Walliams, Stan has removed Fing! from its content slate.”
The US distributor, Angel Studios, has also adjusted its plans. The company confirmed that Walliams’ cameo has been removed and that he will be cut from all US marketing materials. In a statement to Variety, Angel Studios said, “We take the allegations reported regarding David Walliams seriously. Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected. We have removed his cameo appearance from ‘Fing!,’ and he will have no involvement in the film’s release or promotion.”
The situation in the UK and Ireland has taken a different turn. Sky, the distributor for that region, announced it will completely abandon the film. A Sky spokesperson stated, “The allegations made against David Walliams are extremely serious. We have notified the producers of the film of our intention to exit our position as the UK & Ireland licensee of Fing!. We have already removed content which features him from our platforms.”
While the film may still be shown in other parts of the world, the future of its release remains somewhat uncertain. It is not yet clear whether the other actors and creative professionals involved in the project will all wish for the film to be screened given the recent developments.
