Disney has decided to halt work on its film adaptation of “The Graveyard Book” in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the book's author, Neil Gaiman.
The Marc Forster-directed film was never completely scrapped, but development was halted for several reasons, including the allegations regarding Gaiman.
The Graveyard Book was published in 2008 and is about a young boy who is raised by the ghosts of graveyards after his family is murdered. A film adaptation of the novel is not yet in pre-production and no casting has been confirmed. Gaiman has no role in the film.
In a report released July 3 by Tortoise Media, the “Sandman” creator was accused of sexually assaulting a then-18-year-old woman referred to as K in 2003, and a 23-year-old woman named Scarlett in 2022.
Scarlett alleges that Gaiman sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of his home in New Zealand, where she was working as a nanny for his child. According to Tortoise, Gaiman’s account is that they “cuddled” and “kissed” in the bathroom and that he consented to it. He says that he and Scarlett had a three-week sexual relationship during which they engaged in consensual digital penetration only. Scarlett alleges that as part of their consensual relationship, Gaiman “engaged in violent and degrading penetrative sexual acts with her,” according to Tortoise.
The incident led to a complaint being filed with the police against Gaiman in New Zealand, where an investigation is currently underway by authorities.
The other woman, K., says she met Geiman at a book signing in Sarasota, Florida, in 2003, when she was 18. She claims she entered into a romantic relationship with Geiman when she was 20 and he was in his mid-40s, but that it involved violent and painful sex that she “did not want or enjoy,” according to Tortoise. Geiman has denied any illegal conduct with K.
Tortoise released a series of podcasts detailing these allegations, and three additional women came forward with their own allegations in subsequent episodes.
Disney declined to comment.
IndieWire was the first to report the news.
