Executives at Fox Searchlight are reportedly “scrambling” after Nate Parker, the star and director of the highly anticipated film “The Birth of A Nation,” opened up about a rape charge he faced 17 years ago while attending Penn State.

Fox Searchlight shelled out a record-breaking $17.5 million for the film about the 1831 slave revolt led by Nat Turner after its debut at Sundance Film Festival in January, Variety magazine reported.

Now, Variety reports, the studio is taking a “wait and see approach” to a ambitious release plan that had called for the black actor’s extensive outreach to church groups and college campuses to promote social justice.

Mr. Parker, who also wrote an produced the film, along with the film’s co-writer, Jean Celestin, were accused in 1999 of having sex with an 18-year-old Penn State student while she was unconscious.

While Mr. Parker was acquitted in 2000, Mr. Celestin was found guilty. He appealed the verdict and was granted a new trial in 2005, but the case was thrown out after the victim decided not to testify again, Variety reported.

A source told the magazine that Searchlight executives weren’t aware of the allegations when they offered $17.5 million for the film, but learned about the trial after the deal was already made.

Sources said studio executives are considering not granting any new interviews with Mr. Parker until the movie debuts next month at the Toronto Film Festival and some of the fallout has had a chance to blow over.

“Fox Searchlight is aware of the incident that occurred while Nate Parker was at Penn State,” Fox said in a statement. “We also know that he was found innocent and cleared of all charges. We stand behind Nate and are proud to help bring this important and powerful story to the screen.”

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