Sir Kenneth Branagh, who was due to work on a film with Harvey Weinstein, has said he is "astonished and appalled" by the allegations against the disgraced producer.

Weinstein was due to produce the adaptation of the Artemis Fowl novels by the Northern Irish actor and director, who received one of his five Oscar nominations for a role in a film by the disgraced mogul.

But Disney sacked Weinstein, 65, from the project after dozens of women came forward to accuse him of sexual abuse and harassment.

"Like everybody else (I've felt) astonished and appalled," Sir Kenneth, 56, told the Press Association in Los Angeles on Thursday.

"I salute everybody who has been brave enough to expose these kind of details so that appropriate action can be taken and potentially some significant social change can come positively out of a very painful and cruel situation."