There’s a reason that Clint Eastwood’s daughter, Francesca, was able to proudly represent her screen legend father at the world premiere of his film “Juror #2” on Oct. 27, despite her recent arrest on a felony domestic violence charge.
Prosecutors had already decided not to file criminal charges against Francesca Eastwood in the alleged assault on her boyfriend, TMZ reported Sunday. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office had decided back in October to not prosecute the case, citing insufficient evidence and the refusal of the alleged victim, Francesca Eastwood’s boyfriend, to cooperate.
No doubt, the prosecutors’ decision came as a relief to the 94-year-old Eastwood, his beloved daughter and their family. Following Francesca Eastwood’s arrest, sources close to the family told the Daily Mail that the movie star and director had been “struggling” recently with “all the recent lows in his life,” including his daughter’s recent legal troubles and the death in July of his girlfriend, Christina Sandera.
“Francesca’s arrest could not have come at a worse time in his life, because he is feeling pretty sad about losing his girlfriend three months ago,” a source told the Daily Mail. “To say he is feeling down is a gross understatement.”
The D.A.’s decision also meant that a criminal prosecution wouldn’t overshadow the release of “Juror #2,” which could possibly mark the final film in Eastwood’s seven-decade Hollywood career. Francesca Eastwood has a small but pivotal role in the well-reviewed legal thriller.
She was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12 by the Beverly Hills police after a verbal argument with her boyfriend turned physical, TMZ reported. Her boyfriend is personal trainer and actor Alexander Wraith, with whom she had a baby son in 2018, according to People magazine. Following her arrest, Francesca Eastwood was booked on suspicion of felony domestic violence and was released from custody on $50,000 bail.
Two weeks later, “Juror #2″ premiered in Los Angeles at the AFI Fest. Unfortunately, Eastwood wasn’t there. AFI president Bob Gazzale informed disappointed fans that Eastwood “could not be here with us tonight, but we are here for him,” Variety reported.
Francesca Eastwood was there and so too were the film’s other stars, Toni Collette and Nicholas Hoult, who also praised the director. Collette said she was honored to work with Eastwood “as a director, which still blows my mind … but he is a truly good, solid human being. Getting to know him has been incredible.”
The film’s release has been mired in other controversy — all on Eastwood’s behalf. Critics blasted Warner Bros.’ decision to deny “Juror #2” a wide release in movie theaters, despite their almost universal praise for the film as a “legal thriller with a heavy conscience,” as well as Eastwood’s longstanding relationship with the studio.
Variety reported that Eastwood had starred in and directed commercially successful films for the studio for 50 years, as recently as “The Mule” in 2018. Eastwood also has a track record of making movies, like “Unforgiven,” American Sniper” and “Sully,” that win awards or generate Oscar buzz. Warner Bros’ insisted that it initially envisioned “Juror #2” as going direct-to-streaming. The film is scheduled to be released on Max on Dec. 20, the Los Angeles Times reported.
