Warner Bros Discovery open to disclosing outtakes from Arthur in Russell Brand sexual assault lawsuit

Warner Bros Discovery has informed a US court of its willingness to provide unseen footage from the 2011 film Arthur in relation to the civil sexual assault lawsuit against actor and comedian Russell Brand, according to a report in The Times of London.

An actor, reportedly named Jane Doe, filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that the actor-comedian exposed himself during the production of Arthur. The lawsuit further claims that Brand followed the other actor into a rest room and sexually assaulted her even as a production crew member stood guard outside. Both Warner Bros and Brand named a defendant are denying the accusations.

During a recent hearing at the New York Supreme Court, Warner Bros attorney Patrick Lamparello offered a disclosure of "some hours of video outtake footage … four or five hours, it could be more, around eight" from the movie. Warner Bros Discovery is yet to comment on the matter.

The hearing coincided with the news that Brand has been charged in the UK with five counts of rape and sexual assault. Brand is due a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 02. The actor publicly stated that he has not "engaged in non-consensual activity."

Brand's legal team tried to postpone the civil proceedings in New York, arguing potential overlap with the ongoing criminal case in the United Kingdom. However, the judge turned down this request.

Meanwhile, Brand's attorney, Mark Cuccaro, expressed his client's fear of potential criminal charges in the USA, despite the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) not currently having an active investigation. Cuccaro stated that Brand has a "reasonable belief criminal prosecution is possible in the U.S. based on allegations tantamount to criminal sexual misconduct occurring in the U.S., of which he has been falsely accused both by this civil plaintiff and several others through the media."

During a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times, Jane Doe, Brand's accuser from the Arthur set, described feeling "used and abused" and like an "object for his momentary titillation." She also questioned the likelihood of any intervention had she reported the alleged incident at the time, suggesting a culture of overlooking misconduct on set.