David Walliams’s new movie has been dropped by Sky following “extremely serious” allegations made against the writer and actor.
The development comes after producers said just yesterday that Walliams’s cameo in the movie had been cut and he would not have any involvement in the film’s release or promotion.
The best-selling author and former Britain’s Got Talent judge, 55, was named as part of an investigation by The Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday, after he tried to obtain an injunction to prevent the reporting of allegations against him.
One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams, when she was 15, as a “sexual assault”, while multiple women accused him of “grooming” them when they were teenagers.
Walliams denies any wrongdoing.
Several of his children’s books have been adapted into films, including Fing!, which was published in 2019.
A movie based on the book was due to be distributed by Sky across the UK and Ireland in early 2027; however, it has now been dumped.
In a statement shared with the Press Association, a Sky spokesperson said: “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 and Ireland licensee of Fing!.
“We have already removed content which features him from our platforms.”
Directed by Jeffrey Walker and filmed in Australia, some of the film’s stars include Taika Waititi, Blake Harrison and Mia Wasikowska, while Matt Lucas provided the voice of the titular character.
Angel Studios confirmed it will still release the film in the US, but a cameo featuring Walliams will be removed and he will not take part in its promotion.
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.”
Fing! will also retain its January 14 release date in Australia, but local distributor Transmission Films confirmed to ABC that Walliams will not participate in the publicity campaign.
Local streaming service Stan was set to make the film available on its platform, but told ABC: “In light of the recent and serious allegations against David Walliams, Stan has removed Fing! from its content slate.”
Since Walliams was named in the ITV News and The Guardian investigation, he has been dropped by his literary agent, while the BBC said it was “in the process of removing” programmes including Little Britain.
In a letter understood to have been sent several months ago by Walliams to journalists working on the ITV News and Guardian investigations, he wrote: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.
“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret.
“And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”
He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Walliams has yet to respond following the publication of his name on Tuesday.
