Armie Hammer lands first movie role since sex abuse allegations

Armie Hammer is looking to get back in the saddle.

The embattled actor has booked his first screen project since his Hollywood career was derailed by allegations of sexual abuse in 2021. Hammer, 38, will appear in the Western film Frontier Crucible, from Bone Tomahawk producer Dallas Sonnier.

"I'm pumped to work with Armie Hammer on Frontier Crucible," Sonnier says in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. The movie will also star Thomas Jane (The Punisher), Myles Clohessy (Love the Way You Lie), Eli Brown (Gossip Girl), and Eddie Spears (Yellowstone).

Hammer previously starred in the 2013 Western The Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp and was last seen on screen in Death on the Nile, which was released in theaters in early 2022 but filmed in the second half of 2019, before allegations against the actor emerged.

Hammer became embroiled in controversy in early 2021 when accusations against him went viral on social media, claiming that he sent various women messages suggesting a desire for erotic cannibalism and violent BDSM kinks. Hammer called those allegations "bulls---" as he exited the Jennifer Lopez rom-com Shotgun Wedding.

Hammer subsequently departed multiple acting projects and was dropped by his publicist and talent agency. His situation worsened when a woman named Effie accused him of raping her in 2017. Hammer denied the accusation, claiming the encounter in question was completely consensual, though he did later admit that "the power dynamics were off" in the relationship. The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Hammer, but the L.A. County District Attorney's Office ultimately declined to file charges against him, citing "insufficient evidence" following a "thorough review."

Earlier this week Hammer launched his own podcast, with Tom Arnold as his first guest. In the inaugural episode, the Call Me by Your Name actor reflected on the fallout of the scandal.

"I remember when the s--- hit the fan," Hammer said. "It was gradual. First it was like little pieces of s---, and then it was the whole thing. The little pieces of s--- were, 'There's someone online saying things about you being abusive. It's starting to pick up traction. Do you know who this person is?'"

Later in the episode, Hammer said that his attorney told him to  "shut the f--- up" during the criminal investigation. "I wasn't going to do anything to make this worse," he recalled.

The actor also suggested that he has some affection for the wilder part of his reputation. "I'm not gonna lie, I kinda like the cannibal stuff now," Hammer said.